01/04/2005 - On 1 April
2005, the Environment Agency takes over the
management of sixteen watercourses in the
Upper Severn area. Our workforce will shortly
be seen out and about along these rivers as
a programme of maintenance begins.
These ‘Critical Ordinary Watercourses’ (COWs)
are watercourses that have not been classed
as main rivers before, but can cause properties
to flood. During the Government’s March 2003
funding review, we were asked to take over
responsibility for them to ensure that they
are maintained to a consistent standard.
Our first job is to find out what needs to
be done to bring them up to a satisfactory
standard and minimise the risk of flooding.
Once we have assessed them, we will start
to carry out the work, which may, in some
cases, include removing some trees that increase
the risk of flooding.
Environment Agency Project Manager, Peter
Coxhill, says: "It’s a bit like taking
over a new home – you need to find out what’s
in the garden and what needs to be done first.
"We aim to get these watercourses up
to standard during the first year - improving
water flows, where possible, removing blockages,
clearing culverts and helping to protect local
homes and businesses from flooding.
"We may need to remove some trees, where
they increase flood risk or prevent the water
from flowing freely, but we will only do so
if it is absolutely necessary, and we will
carry out the work in an environmentally friendly
way."
Notes: Critical Ordinary Watercourses in
Upper Severn that will come under Environment
Agency management from 1 April 2005:
4.47km of the River Morda from Beaconsfield
Terrace, Morda (Oswestry, OS sheet SJ22NE
& SJ32NW)
2.01km of Plas Cerrig from the pathway at
the rear of the school (Oswestry, OS sheet
SJ22SE)
2.14km of the Bagley Brook from the A528 (Shrewsbury
& Atcham, OS sheet SJ41SE & SJ41NE)
2.45km of the Battlefield Brook from the road
crossing on the bypass (Shrewsbury & Atcham,
OS sheet SJ51SW & SJ51NW)
0.50km of an un-named tributary of Battlefield
Brook from A5112 (Shrewsbury & Atcham,
OS sheet SJ51NW)
1.12km of the Money Brook from A5 bypass (Shrewsbury
& Atcham, OS sheet SJ40NE & SJ41SE)
7.22km of the Shyte Brook from Stretton Road,
Much Wenlock (Bridgnorth, OS sheet SO69NW
& SJ60SW)
1.04km of the Astwood Brook from the road
crossing at Astwood Road (Worcester, OS sheet
SO85NE)
0,10km of the Astwood Brook overflow channel
from Shelley Close (Worcester, OS sheet SO85NE)
1.03km of the Barbourne Brook from Wardon
Way crossroads (Worcester, OS sheet SO85NE)
1.95km of the Duck Brook from the railway
crossing (Worcester, OS sheet SO85SE)
2.16km of the Riddings Brook from the rear
of Queensway Road (Wyre Forest, OS sheet SO77SE
& SO77NE)
1.37km of the Coalbourne Brook from the balancing
area (Dudley, OS sheet SP88NE & SO98NW)
1.51km of the Wordsley Brook from the footpath
at Buckpool (Dudley, OS sheet SO88NE)
0.73km of the Mousesweet Brook from the Dudley
Canal (Dudley, OS sheet SO98NE)
3.62km of the Dawley Brook from the balancing
area (Dudley, OS sheet SO88NE)
