Information on organisations and responsibilities

Redbridge has multiple roles and functions, including as a Highway Authority, an LLFA (Lead Local Flood Authority), a landowner and a Category One Responder.

As a Highway Authority, Redbridge is responsible for maintaining any highway assets on adopted roads which are not on the Strategic Road Network (which is managed by TfL). Highway drainage, such as drains, kerbs, road gullies, ditches and pipes, have to be managed and routinely inspected to ensure that highway runoff on and from highways is well managed. Redbridge’s highway drainage responsibilities include highway gullies and pipework up to the point it connects to the public sewer network, where it becomes Thames Waters responsibility.

Highway gullies are metal slotted grids that are found next to the kerb and drain water that collects on the public highway. They are also known as drains. Sometimes these gullies are embedded in the kerb forming a metal box within the kerbstone.

Each gully is programmed for cleaning once a year.

Report a flooded or blocked drain

• gullies reported with missing/broken grates that are causing a danger to the public will be made safe as a matter of urgency and dealt with as soon as possible
• gullies with broken grates that are not causing a danger to the public will be added to our programme for maintenance of non-urgent works

Main drainage sewer systems are the responsibility of Thames Water

As the LLFA, Redbridge is responsible for managing local flood risk. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 requires Redbridge to:

• carry out works that manage the local flood risk – see case studies of flood alleviation schemes within Redbridge here.
• co-operate with other Risk Management Authorities, such as the Environment Agency and Thames Water.
• prepare and maintain a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
• maintain a Register of Assets - these are physical features that have an effect on flooding.
• undertake investigations when flooding events where necessary and make the results from these investigations public, these can be formally reported on and are called Section 19 reports.

• regulate ordinary watercourses to maintain a proper flow under the Land Drainage Act 1991.
• undertake a statutory consultee role providing technical advice on surface water drainage to local planning authorities for major developments.

As a Category One Responder, Redbridge is required to:

• assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning.
• put in place emergency plans.
• put in place business continuity management arrangements.
• maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency.
• share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination.
• co-operate with other local responders to enhance coordination and efficiency.
• provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management.

Redbridge Council have permissive rights under the Land Drainage Act 1999 to ensure watercourses in its area are properly maintained irrespective of ownership.

Our main permissive rights are:

• to ensure all watercourses in its area are maintained to a standard that allows water to flow through them freely
• to inspect all works carried out to or within three metres of a watercourse regardless of its ownership status and insist on any changes needed to protect both upstream and downstream users

Land drainage approval must be applied for if any of the following conditions apply to any works you wish to carry out:

• works that will affect or add flow to any open or piped watercourse
• works to the embankments, ditch bottom or any part of a piped watercourse
• works within 3 metres of any open or piped watercourse
• works to connect new pipes or watercourses to an existing open or piped watercourse

Redbridge does not have a land drainage application form but any formal application for Land Drainage approval should contain:

The Environment Agency is a lead Risk Management Authority in flood risk management. Section 165 of the Water Resources Act (1991) appoints permissive powers related to Main Rivers to the Environment Agency, including the maintenance and improvement of existing works as well as the construction of new works. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 also gives responsibility for the management of river flooding to the Environment Agency. River flood risk is mapped in different Flood Zones with the following risk boundaries:

• Flood Zone 3: Areas with a greater than 1 in 100 years (>1%) annual probability of river flooding
• Flood Zone 2: Areas with an annual probability of river flooding between 1 in 100 years and 1 in 1,000 years (1% to 0.1%)
• Flood Zone 1: Areas with less than a 1 in 1000 years (<0.1%) annual probability of river flooding

The main rivers within the borough of Redbridge are:

• River Roding
• Cran Brook (tributary of the River Roding)
• Seven Kings Water and Loxford Water (tributary of the River Roding)

The Environment Agency performs regular maintenance activities, including the inspection of any flood risk assets for debris build up. Under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), the Environment Agency is also regarded as a Category One Responder. If you notice a blockage or tree on a main river which is causing risk of flooding, call the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

There are also structures and screens that are managed and cleared on rivers on a more regular basis in periods of adverse weather. This could be the Environment Agency, local authority or other organisation or private landowner. The significant structures will be highlighted in a Flood Asset Register.

Permits are required from the Environment Agency to build any structures along main rivers.

Thames Water is the regional water and sewerage company responsible for managing the risk of flooding from sewers including surface water, foul and combined sewer systems. Under Section 94 of the Water Industry Act (1991), Thames Water have a duty to inspect, maintain, and repair their sewers and other drainage assets. Thames Water should advise the council about any works being carried out and provide a platform for which sewer flooding incidents can be reported by residents.

Thames Water is also a clean water provider in Redbridge and is responsible for mitigating water main leaks including reinstatement of the public highway if any damage occurs. If you think there is a blockage in the sewer, use the Blockages and blocked drains | Emergencies | Help | Thames Water to report it.

If the flooding is coming from inside your property (i.e.. out of your sinks, toilets, or showers) then please use Flooding and pollution | Emergencies | Help | Thames Water or call Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.

 Please complete their sewer flooding questionnaire as this is the only way they prioritise any longer term work which may be required.

Sewer flooding can often be seen as surface water flooding and so it may not be clear where it originates from, in this instance a report needs to be made to us.

Unfortunately, even with supply pipes there can be leaks and occasionally more serious pipe bursts. For advice in these situations please visit your water supplier website.

In many cases across London, Thames Water is your supplier and provides the following advice on Frozen or burst pipes | Emergencies | Help | Thames Water You must report the leak to Thames Water  regarding all pipe burst in the road.

Find your supplier | Water UK

TfL are responsible for managing the operation of the public transport network across London and the drainage of surface water of red routes of their Strategic Road Network. TfL’s red routes within the borough are the following:

• A113 - Charlie Brown’s roundabout
• A12 - Eastern Avenue
• A12 - Gants Hill roundabout
• A12 - Redbridge roundabout
• A1400 - Southend Road
• A1400 - Woodford Avenue
• A406 - North Circular Road
• A406 - Southend Road (North Circular Road)

If you notice blocked gullies or flooding on these roads please report them to TfL on 0343 222 1234.

Landowners have the primary responsibility of safeguarding their own land and property against flooding. Common law also enables landowners to take reasonable measures to protect their property from flooding, provided the measures do not cause harm to others or other neighbouring properties. Landowners adjacent to water courses or with water courses flowing through them are responsible for ensuring that any structures on their land linked to a neighbouring watercourse is kept clear of debris and the watercourse can flow naturally.