Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in exercise of the powers conferred upon her by section 3(5) of the Land Drainage Act 1991, made The Upper Ouse Water Management Board Order 2026 on 27 January 2026 (S.I. 2026/61) confirming, with modifications, the Scheme submitted by the Environment Agency under section 3(1) of the Act.

The Order confirming the Scheme makes provision for:

(i) the amalgamation of the Alconbury and Ellington Internal Drainage District, Bedfordshire and River Ivel Internal Drainage District, and Buckingham and River Ouzel Internal Drainage District into a single drainage district under section 3(2)(b) of the 1991 Act;

(ii) the abolition of the internal drainage boards for those districts under section 3(2)(d) of the 1991 Act;

(iii) the constitution of a new internal drainage board with the name Upper Ouse Water Management Board under section 3(2)(f) of the 1991 Act; and

(iv) matters supplemental to or consequential on the above under section 3(2)(i) of the 1991 Act.

A copy of the Order may be seen during normal office working hours at the Offices of the Environment Agency Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 4NE, Tel: 02030255472 or areamanagercorrespondence.eastanglia@environment-agency.gov.uk; and the Office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by contacting: carol.tidmarsh@defra.gov.uk, Telephone: 020 8026285.

By paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the Land Drainage Act 1991, it is provided that if any person aggrieved by an order desires to question its validity on the grounds that it is not within the powers of the Act or that any requirement of the Act has not been complied with they may, within 6 weeks after the date of publication of this notice, make an application for either purpose to the High Court. If any such application is duly made, the High Court, if satisfied that the Order is not within the powers of the Act, or that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by any requirements of the Act not having been complied with, may quash the Order either generally or in so far as it affects the applicant.

Carol Tidmarsh Floods, Waterways and EA Sponsorship

Dated: 10 April 2026