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 North Kent Marshes Water Level Management Board Order 2026 on 10 March 2026 (S.I. 2026/285) 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 Lower Medway Internal Drainage District and North Kent Marshes 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 North Kent Marshes Water Level 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 Teville Gate House, 25 Railway Approach, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1UR,Telephone: 07767 338871, Email: peter.bilbrough@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,7 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