Fine details of Newbury's £1.54m flood alleviation scheme revealed
Environment Agency spokesman, Joe Giacomelli, recently (Feb 29) confirmed construction work on the scheme is to start in August and finish in December.
The scheme will protect Newbury from the devastating affects of floodwater rising from the Kennet and Avon canal, which could potentially ruin businesses, homes and public buildings in the town.
“The scheme will deliver protection to parts of the town centre at risk from river flooding up to a 1 per cent chance of river flooding in any one year. Currently, some properties in those areas have anything up to a 20 per cent chance of flooding over the same period,” said Mr Giacomelli, adding:
“Our scheme will offer flood protection to more than 380 residential and almost 70 commercial properties. Two nursery schools, two residential homes for the elderly and the A339 and A4 will also benefit.”
The Environment Agency was unable to provide the exact cost of the scheme, as some options are still being designed, but has provided details of the type and dimensions of six flood walls and barriers to be constructed (given below) to include a new flood kerb, some two feet high, through Victoria Park.
Secretary of the Friends of Victoria Park, Graham Smith, who has attended several exhibitions held in Newbury by the agency in the last two years about the work, pointed out the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust would be running the annual Newbury Waterways festival at the end of July:
“We would be unhappy if the work was going on then, but it looks like they will be starting it afterwards,” he said.
Mr Smith added said the barrier would not inconvenience those needing to moor canal boats/barges: “No, it won’t affect moorings at all,” he said, adding “People walking along the towpath will have to go over a short ramp to get in/out of the park but I don’t see that as a major issue.”
A total of £2,100 has been pledged from local businesses - including Newbury Today's sister paper, the Newbury Weekly News - to be match funded by Greenham Common Trust.
In addition, a pledge of £20,000 was received from Sovereign Housing.
West Berkshire Council pledged £180,000 and Newbury Town Council £45,000 towards the scheme
The pledges triggered a £1.2m government grant earlier this year and announcement from West Berkshire Council the scheme would go ahead.
One in six homes in England is at risk of flooding according to the Environment Agency.
FOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME WORK - DIMENSIONS/TYPE AT SIX LOCATIONS IN NEWBURY
Location 1 - Russell Road - towpath Raising - up to 230mm high over 250m
Location 2 - Northcroft Park - New earth embankment 470m long and up to 1.5m high
Location 3 - Northcroft Lane - A combination of new flood walls up to 400mm high, new embankment up to 400mm high and improvements to existing defences.
Location 4 - Victoria Park-New flood kerb - 70mm high over 50m long
Location 5 - Ampere Road - New flood wall up to 600mm high and 30m long
Location 6 - London Road - towpath raising - up to 100mm over 450m
**For more details visit http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/125115.aspx
