Know your responsibilities

If a stream, ditch or culvert runs on, beneath or alongside your property, you are a ‘riparian owner’. Hassocks has at least 450 such properties. Riparian ownership brings rights, but also responsibilities to maintain the watercourse and allow water to pass without obstruction. Keeping your section clear can reduce risks to your own property and the wider community.

If you think your property may be affected, please read our guide to Riparian Ownership Responsibilities.

Report a flood risk

If you see leaves, litter or other debris blocking a drain, ditch or stream, or any other flood risk, you should report it to the property owner or relevant authority.

• Public drains: Mid Sussex District Council | 01444 458166
• Public roadways: West Sussex County Council | 01243 642105
• Water supply: South East Water | 0333 000 0365
• Sewerage and water mains drainage: Southern Water | 0330 303 0368
• Groundwater flooding: West Sussex County Council | 01243 642105
• Flooding posing immediate risk to life: Call 999

If flooding or a flood risk is affecting Adastra Park, Parkland Copse or Talbot Field, or if you don’t know who to report it to, please contact Hassocks Parish Council (info@hassocks-pc.gov.uk | 01273 842714) and we will do our best to report it.

Volunteer

If you’d be interested in volunteering to periodically clear leaves blocking drain grids/covers along Keymer Road at suitable times of year or for other flood prevention tasks, please email info@hassocks-pc.gov.uk or call 01273 842714. Hassocks Parish Council can provide hi-vis jackets equipment and training.

If you have expertise in drainage, water management, flood resilience or the local watercourses and would like to support the Parish Council’s Flood Working Group, please email info@hassocks-pc.gov.uk or call 01273 842714

Hassocks flood map

This page is currently under development and will feature advice and information from our Flood Working Group and partner organisations.