Newbury's flood alleviation scheme delay

Scheduled to start in the late summer and last five months, work on Newbury’s flood alleviation scheme has been delayed due to small design changes, necessitating additional site investigations, according to a spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, (EA), Hayley Willoughby:
“We should be on site at the beginning of October with a completion date still set at March 31 (2013),” said Miss Willoughby.
The scheme affects six Newbury locations, including the Kennet & Avon canal towpath through Victoria Park and is designed to protect homes and businesses in Newbury from floodwater rising from the canal (pictured).
Bill Fisher, vice-president and a trustee of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, said the scheme was designed to transfer flood water from Victoria Park, Russell Road and Mill Lane in Newbury, to the east side of Newbury, where there were less homes, buildings and infrastructure.
However with water flow between Greenham Lock and Ham Lock estimated at two cubed metres per second, if flood water was redirected to a part of the canal with no embankment, the situation could prove, he said far worse than Newbury’s worst flood, in 1947.
Any such flood, he continued, was likely to affect Newbury Business Park and shops off the A4, including Tesco and B & Q in London Road.
“It would flood all the industrial structures in Hambridge Road,” said Mr Fisher.
Mr Fisher said discussions between the trust, West Berkshire Council and the EA were currently taking place over the issue, which according to Mr Fisher were being held in private.
EA spokeswoman, Miss Willoughby, confirmed at a July 16 meeting, these three organisations discussed the effects the scheme could have on the canal and the sluices downstream. while pointing out the EA had held, she said: “Numerous public meetings,” on the topic.
Investigations and discussions were continuing between the three organisations, she continued, adding the agency was unable to comment further on the issue, until conclusions had been reached.
“The Environment Agency will continue to work with all parties to conclude plans that offer the best solution,” said Miss Willoughby.
West Berkshire Council spokeswoman Peta Stoddart-Crompton, issued the following recent statement:
"Our position is simply, we are committed to ensuring that the Environment Agency and their consultant, Halcrow, attend to all the issues and concerns raised by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and Newbury Boat Company. Meetings with all parties have already been held."
The six locations of the flood alleviation scheme include: Russell Road (towpath raising) Northcroft Park (new earth embankment) Northcroft Lane (new flood walls, new embankment) Victoria Park (new flood kerb) Ampere Road (new flood wall) and London Road (towpath raising).