05/07/2005 - The Environment
Agency announced on 5 July 2005 that the Tidal
Trent Strategy is now available for consultation.The
strategy was started in 2003. We collected
data on the existing situation relating to
flooding, the environment and the properties
in the floodplain. In September 2003 we issued
a Scoping Report to about a hundred people
and organisations to find out their views
on flood risk management.
We built a computer model of the tidal River
Trent. This allowed us to calculate flood
levels along the river and look at the effects
of different flood-risk management options.
In this model, we consider both river flows
and tides. From the results we can see that
flooding upstream of Gainsborough is caused
almost entirely by high river flows. For Gainsborough
and downstream, the flooding is caused by
extreme high tides, or a combination of high
river flows and extreme tides.
We also examined the condition of existing
flood defences along the River Trent to allow
us to see where and when improvements might
be necessary. To ensure that we looked at
the environmental impacts we carried out a
Strategic Environmental Assessment and considered
the effects of our options on a number of
objectives.
We then considered a number of different
options for flood management on the tidal
River Trent. From the large range of options,
we drew up a short list based on their effectiveness
in bringing about a realistic reduction in
flood levels. These were then examined in
more detail on the basis of their effects
on the environment, how well they might work,
and whether they represented good use of public
money.
The recommendations in the report include
maintaining existing defences at their current
standards and, in some places, to a set standard.
To do this, the existing defences need to
be raised where appropriate and replaced when
they reach the end of their useful life. We
will also continue to carry out maintenance
works and provide flood warnings.
We propose examining the possibility of constructing
a flood storage area near Sturton-le-Steeple
to reduce flood levels and help reduce the
effects of climate change. Currently, there
is a proposal in the Nottinghamshire Minerals
Local Plan under consideration to extract
sand and gravel from this area. Our flood
storage proposal for this area should not
affect or be affected by this plan.
Project Manager, Loreta Adams, says: "Engineering
alone cannot protect people and the environment
from all floods. We need to balance our investment
in defences with efforts to develop innovative
ways of managing floods, so that we can minimise
the risk of flooding into the future. A study
like the Tidal Trent Strategy helps us make
sure we have considered every possibility
and how the different options interact with
each other."
All comments on the Tidal Trent Flood Risk
Management Strategy are welcome and will be
considered when preparing the final report.
Comments should be sent to Loreta Adams, Environment
Agency, Olton Court, 10 Warwick Road, Olton,
Solihull, B92 7HX (e-mail: loreta.adams@environment-agency.gov.uk)
by 30 September 2005.
Copies of the draft report of the Tidal Trent
flood risk management strategy will be displayed
at our offices in Nottingham and Gainsborough.
Copies can be also obtained on CD from Loreta
Adams at the address above.
Further information for media contact Lyn
Fraley on 0121 711 5829
Email contact for media only, all other enquiries
please contact 08708 506506
