Holly Smith - 17-Apr-2007
- The Environment Agency is asking for comments
on its proposals for flood protection for
people and properties in Derby.
We have issued a final ‘Scoping Report’
which explains how we might reduce flood
risk between Milford and the River Trent.
The report is based on the comments received
during the previous consultation stage.
The area we have studied includes land
around the River Derwent from Milford to
where it joins the Trent, a distance of
approximately 22 kilometres. The river is
an important part of the urban environment,
providing a place for recreation, relaxation
and wildlife so, as well as looking at the
standard of existing defences and identifying
ways to reduce flood risk in future, we
want to improve the environment.
Paul Lockhart, Area Flood Risk Manager
said: "We want the river to be a part
of the urban environment in a way that can
be enjoyed by people and support wildlife,
as well as reducing the misery and damage
caused by flooding. We are calling this
our Blue Corridor vision for Derby. The
Scoping Report describes the options we
are considering. We are interested in people’s
comments on our report and would welcome
their help in identifying anything else
about the study area that we need to take
into account."
People can see copies of the document at:
Derby Central, Spondon, Alvaston, Allestree,
Duffield and Borrowash Libraries
Environment Agency Trentside Office, Scarrington
Road, Nottingham
or on our website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
The deadline for responses is the 11th May
2007 and comments should be sent to:
Cheryl Field
Senior Environmental Assessment Officer
Environment Agency
Olton Court
10 Warwick Road
Olton, Solihull
B92 7HX
These comments will help us to assess the
alternatives and identify our preferred
option or options. These will need to be
technically feasible, economically viable
and environmentally acceptable.
Notes to Editors
Flooding can have a major impact on lives,
communities, the economy and the environment.
We cannot prevent floods but we can prepare
for them. Our work can reduce the chance
of properties flooding by managing land
and river systems. The Derby Flood Risk
Management Strategy is looking at ways of
reducing the flood risk to people and properties
along the River Derwent, highlighting where
to target our efforts over the next 100
years.
The River Derwent has suffered from frequent
and extensive flooding, with records dating
back to 1587. Since then, some 40 floods
are known to have occurred within the study
area, affecting Derby and the villages upstream
and downstream.
Within the study area, there are approximately
28 kilometres (km) of existing defences,
consisting of walls and embankments. The
existing defences in derby were built mainly
in during the late 1960s and early 1970s,
following severe flooding in 1965.
We repaired existing defences to the south
of Derby along Raynesway around the sewage
treatment works and industrial areas in
1998. The current standard of protection
varies. Some of the defences offer protection
from a flood with a 1% chance of happening
in any one year, but others only provide
protection from floods with a 4% chance
of happening in any one year. The condition
of the defences also varies from place to
place.
There are three Flood Warning Areas within
the study area:
Ambergate to Little Eaton including Duffield,
Milford and little Eaton
Little Eaton to Spondon which includes Derby
and
Borrowash to Church Wilne.
Within these areas, flood warnings are sent
direct to properties which have signed up
to the flood warning service. Flood warnings
are also broadcast on local radio and TV.
As part of the Derby Strategy, we are:
Investigating the current standard of protection
offered by the existing defences
Identifying the condition of the existing
defences based on age and structural stability
Identifying where new defences are needed
or old defences are redundant
Identifying other ways of reducing flood
risk such as extending flood warning
Considering the preferred option(s) to reduce
flood risk for Derby, taking into account
recent computer modelling work and allowing
for climate change.
