Land at risk of flooding should be identified in Maldon's Local Plan agree councillors studying planning policy guidance on flood risks.

New guidance notes from the DETR advises that susceptibility of land to flooding is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

In a report to members, chief executive, Tony Plumridge said the majority of the district's coastline is at risk from flooding from a one in 200 year coastal flood event.

He added: "The location of new development has to be carefully considered to ensure that the risk of flooding, damage to property and loss of life is minimised.

"The built up area of the coastline should not be extended. To err on the side of caution, all new development should be on the landward side of the riverside towns and villages above the 10metre contour line."

The council supports the Environment Agency's risk based approach and encourages the earliest publication of maps and analysis.

Following the recent flooding across the county Cllr Richard Dewick told members of the environment economic development select committee: "Every time we build up a new area the amount of run-off is instantaneous.

"I would say the last 15 to 20 years have been unusual dry and may be this is the start of an unusually wet 15 to 20 year. We ignore these cases at our peril."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.