Keeping our watercourses well maintained benefits the community as a whole. If an area experiences constant flooding, this becomes a nuisance to the community, can restrict access to property, makes every day living difficult and results in considerable expense and inconvenience for those that have been flooded.
There are various resources available including a leaflet and posters as well as more detailed guidance which can be sourced at:
www.westsussex.gov.uk/ditchtheproblem
If you have a watercourse, ditch, stream, river or culvert on or next to your land you are known as a “riparian owner”. Riparian owners are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of watercourses on their land to ensure to ensure that they are not a flood risk to other people or property. Riparian responsibilities for landowners under the law are to:
Find out more about riparian ownership:
Review these two booklets - Ditch the Problem - Riparian Owners FAQ's