If your property adjoins a river, brook, beck, ditch, stream, leat, goyle, rhyne, culvert (a culvert is an underground structure that water can flow through) you may be responsible for its maintenance.

Some of your responsibilities include:

• maintaining river beds and banks;
• allowing the flow of water to pass without obstruction;
• controlling invasive alien species such as Japanese knotweed.

However you may need to get permission to do work around a watercourse if you want, You’re responsible for getting the permissions and licences you need. You may get a fine or go to prison if you don’t do this.

West Sussex County Council have also published a useful information booklet called Ditch the Problem which helps answer Riparian Owners Frequently Asked Questions.  Further guidance is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/owning-a-watercourse