Talk:River Lavant, West Sussex

The 1994 ?bursting? of the banks

I'm from memory, which can be faulty, and not cited sources. I believe it was an overtopping rather than a bursting. I have on hearsay, some young urchins explored the culverts during the dry summer and they were fully of junk that would have impeded the flow rate. Now the River Lavant is fed from the chalk South Downs which usually abosrb the rainfall like a sponge until the sponge is full ... from which point the rain comes straight off the hills and into the Rivers Lavant, Arun ... etc. I tink in 1994 that hadn't happend for a few years and developments east of Chichester may have blocked some natural overflow points. From about the Hornet/St. Pancras the Lavant enters culverts, (possibly diverted by recent developments). In all events the river flowrate exceeded culvert capacity and overtopping and much flooding resulted, Green Godesses to the rescue, having a higher pump rate than the regular fire appliance; much water being pumped to the canal basin. The observer would surely have this. thankyou, Djm-leighpark (talk) 14:20, 7 September 2021 (UTC)

Also from memory, the article is fairly accurate, but there should be more news sources. I'll have a look. Tony Holkham (Talk) 19:46, 7 September 2021 (UTC)

Looking the (Observer newsroom, 2019) the claim the bursting of the banks flooding Midhurst is a little far fetched. There's a complexity of water systems, not to mention disused gravel pits etc, that copes (or not) with water off of the South Downs. The River Lavant is but one part of that story. Hmm ... needs research rather than memories and hearsay and original. Djm-leighpark (talk) 06:19, 9 September 2021 (UTC)

While the article seems to say the Lavant was responsible for flooding in Midhurst, it was actually the rainfall that was responsible. The Lavant doesn't go through Midhurst, the Rother does. Tony Holkham (Talk) 08:50, 9 September 2021 (UTC)

Possilbe expansion

I'm planning to filtch a later edition of the Newbury book to beef up this article better. Can do from some online resources but better to get Newbury ... maybe from library or maybe a buy. For a view of chi's finest premier tour guides giving an overview of (one of) the long Chichester R. Lavant Culverts do a "Through Chichester Tunnels" site:youtube.com" google. (Warning: elements of inappropriate language). Thankyou. Djm-leighpark (talk) 10:47, 9 September 2021 (UTC)