The Environment Agency undertakes flood defence work and maintenance to major rivers to reduce the likelihood and severity of a flood.
Smaller rivers and streams are the responsibility of the landowner to maintain. The owners of the land immediately adjacent to a watercourse (riparian owner) are legally obliged to ensure water can flow freely, maintain the banks and the bed of the watercourse and must accept flood flows through their land.
Failure of the riparian owners to comply with these responsibilities may result in legal action by other property owners. The District and Borough Councils can give advice and have a discretionary power to take enforcement action against riparian owners to ensure that essential work is carried out.
In extreme conditions the capacity if any watercourse or flood defence may simply be overwhelmed and no one can be held responsible for what is effectively an act of nature.
Back to "Guide to Flooding"