Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to policies 52, 53, 57 and 62 of the Calderdale flood action plan, published in October 2016, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Environment Agency's models for effective management of moorland in Calderdale on peak river flows in (a) Hebden Bridge and (b) Sowerby Bridge.

The Environment Agency is currently modelling catchments in the Calder Valley to assess sites where natural flood management can be most effective and it is too early to comment on how these measures may affect peak river flows at Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge.

Natural England leads on Policy Numbers 52 and 62. As part of the England-wide strategy to restore blanket bog across the uplands, Natural England is working with moorland managers and other stakeholders to agree long-term plans that address the wide range of interests and benefits that functional blanket bogs provide. Through this process and its review of consents on blanket bogs Natural England will be advocating the use of heather cutting as a preferred management tool. In the Calder Valley Natural England is working closely with the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and others to understand how and where such changes in management can be introduced to best effect.

Natural England has a duty under the Habitat Regulations to review any consents/permissions which were issued prior to designation as a European Site. Previously there was discretion as to whether the activities covered by the consents could be tackled through incentives and/or advice rather than formally affirming, modifying or revoking the consent. This discretionary aspect has been removed and under the 2012 amendment of the Habitats Regulations 2010 (Section 23) Natural England now has the legal duty to affirm, modify or revoke any consents issued on European sites, as soon as reasonably practicable.

As part of an England-wide strategy to restore blanket bog to Favourable Conservation Status, Natural England is currently reviewing all consents on blanket bog in line with the duty above (including those which permit burning) and working with landowners to put in place sustainable management and use of these sensitive areas. This will include completing the necessary programme of capital works such as grip-blocking to restore the natural hydrology of the bog and seeding/planting of peat-forming species such as cotton grasses and sphagnum mosses.

The Natural Flood Management Operational Group, a sub-group of the Calderdale Flood Partnership, leads on Policy numbers 53 and 57. The Calderdale Flood Partnership is chaired by Councillor Tim Swift, Leader of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council. The Environment Agency and the Calderdale Flood Partnership remain committed to taking a catchment wide approach to reducing flood risk in the Calder Valley.