FROM THE PLANNER:

Please can you ask the applicant to provide details/information of:

See Kendal Snowsports Club details/Information as requested in red below. Any additional confirmation can be sought with a site visit. Existing Drainage

To summarise the current and proposed surface water drainage arrangements at our club:

The lodge roof run off is directed to two soakaways.

The slope rainwater is collected in a sump at the bottom of the slope – where it is subsequently pumped to a storage tank for redistribution onto the slope when skiing is in progress (called misting). If the water storage tank is not sufficiently charged to facilitate the misting requirements for the skiing duration then a metered water top up is provided by United Utilities. On the other hand – on the very rare occasion that the storage tank and slope sump are at capacity – the excess rainwater is directed to the main sewer on Kirkbie Green.

We propose to install at least one new soakaway in the vicinity of the existing lodge to accommodate the surface water run off from the proposed lodge extension.

The proposed 27% increase in slope matting area will be collected in a new slope sump and directed to the existing system to top up our water tank. We have capacity under our existing lodge to increase the capacity of our storage tank by 30 to 50%. It is fully in the interest of our club to harvest this water – as the cost of a metered commercial water top up is of significant financial burden to our club.

Lodge

a) The location, type (e.g. geocellular, gravel pit) and size/dimensions of the existing soakaway to the lodge;

Our main soakaway is a gravel pit approx. 2mx2mx2m. It was built in 1984 to basic plans (which are now not available). Volunteers dug a hole under the drive adjacent to the downspouts on the photos below.

There is a smaller gravel pit soakaway to the south west edge of the lodge - in garden area to the west of the adjacent down spout.

b) Whether the area that is drained to the soakaway is just the lodge roof or whether it covers any other surrounding area (slope, decking, etc);

Only the main lodge roof discharges to our soakaways. No slope run off is diverted to these gravel pits – as both soakaways are gravity fed – and both are located above the level of the slope collecting sump.

c) Whether the soakaway has ever surcharged;

Neither soakaway has ever shown any problems or surcharged excess water.

Slopes

d) clarification of how the basement water tanks are fed? Is it purely rainwater harvesting from rainfall onto the permeable slope surface?

The storage tanks are supplied with water from two sources. The primary method is rainwater harvesting from the slope sump via a pump, non return valve and tank level control system managed by a PLC housed in the tank room. The reserve method is a metered commercial water inlet (20mm inlet supply).

e) The location of the basement water tanks on site;

Inside the basement of our lodge.

f) The total capacity of the existing basement water tanks;

16m2

g) The average volume of water generally present in the water tanks;

15.8m2

h) Any details they can provide in respect of how often the capacity of these tanks is exceeded;

A PLC controls the mains water inlet supply and the sump pump based on tank level and sump levels. Thus the tank capacity is never exceeded.

i) Detail of the discharge rate(s) to the sewer.

1 toilet and sink in Ladies. 1 toilet and 1 sink in Gents. 1 sink in Kitchen. Charged by UU for consumption based on domestic water usage.

j) A rough plan of how the ski-slope drainage works and photos of its key elements would be useful;

A trough runs along bottom of the slope draining into a larger sump with level sensor and sump pump which directs water to our storage tank. If the tank remains low (on Saturday mornings for example) it fills to 95% using commercial metered water.

If the above information indicates that there is insufficient capacity within the existing tank and soakaway arrangements for the proposed lodge extension and/or slope extension, then further information in respect of how this will be addressed will be required so as to ensure that surface water run-off from the site is not increased.

The proposed expansion to our lodge (and roof) will require at least one additional soakaway.

It is proposed that the slope extension will have a new trough and sump joining the current sump to ensure maximum water is returned to our storage tank to reduce commercial water useage. As you will appreciate the drainage hierarchy set out in the PPG directs that proposals should seek to discharge surface water to ground via soakaway in the first instance. Only if this is demonstrated as not being possible, should surface water be passed onto the sewer network.

The sump which houses the sump pump has an overflow into a drain which is fed into the new Kirkbie Green estate sewer system.

The proposed new slope area is 852m2 (which represents an additional 27% surface area). The new slope will be constructed with similar material (and sub base) to the existing slope which absorbs rain water due to the makeup of the slope matting. The current slope uses a sponge like material to give the slope surface flex, which retains vast amounts of water (equivalent at least the current wooded area surface). The main slope run off water not retained by the pump sump is very small. The additional run off is likely therefore to have no or little impact on the current drainage system. If the current lodge soakaway(s) works well, and any additional new soakaway capacity that is required is proposed to be sited close to the existing soakaway; then we would not require BRE Percolation tests in that particular instance. If any additional new soakaway is remote from the existing soakaway then BRE percolation tests would be required.

We expect any additional lodge extension soakaway to be sited near to the current soakaways. If the basement water tanks (which we are assuming capture rainfall onto the slopes in the first instance) do not have sufficient capacity for the circa 40% increase in slope extent, then details of any additional tanks to be provided (size and where accommodated) and/or soakaways to attenuate/discharge rainfall will be required. The capacity of any new soakaways would need to be designed to accommodate any additional run-off arising from the increased ski-slope area that cannot be accommodated in the tanks. Any new soakaway for the slope would require percolation tests to current BRE 365 standard on site to be undertaken and inform the soakaway design.

The proposed new slope equates to 27% additional slope area (existing slope 3086m2, proposed new slope 852m2). It is in the interest of our club to minimise the requirement for metered commercial water as this is of significant financial burden.

There is available space under the existing lodge to add / increase the capacity of the current storage tank by 30% - 50%. We would prefer to increase this holding capacity than allow surface water to be discharged to either soakaways or sewers.

Information on how to conduct percolation tests to BRE standard can be found at:

http://suds-solutions.co.uk/percolation-tests/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzqPcBRAnEiwAzKRgS_KuUD4izhIJRXXpxncWrBQJM1UWFMU8-AJihQgkKTo6TElyxBL03xoCVVkQAvD_BwE I am open to visiting the site to review and discuss if you or the applicant would consider that to be of value. Should you wish to discuss any of the above then please do not hesitate to contact me. Kind Regards, Edward Page Lead Officer - Flood and Development Management (Secondment) Economy and Infrastructure | Cumbria County Council

Additional pictures supplied

http://suds-solutions.co.uk/percolation-tests/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzqPcBRAnEiwAzKRgS_KuUD4izhIJRXXpxncWrBQJM1UWFMU8-AJihQgkKTo6TElyxBL03xoCVVkQAvD_BwEhttp://suds-solutions.co.uk/percolation-tests/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzqPcBRAnEiwAzKRgS_KuUD4izhIJRXXpxncWrBQJM1UWFMU8-AJihQgkKTo6TElyxBL03xoCVVkQAvD_BwEhttp://suds-solutions.co.uk/percolation-tests/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzqPcBRAnEiwAzKRgS_KuUD4izhIJRXXpxncWrBQJM1UWFMU8-AJihQgkKTo6TElyxBL03xoCVVkQAvD_BwE