Tim
Abbott - 2-Oct-2006 - Living in the floodplain
is never without risk – but a £900,000 makeover
of a flood defence on the River Colne is set to
restore the flood protection to 97 properties
while maintaining the wildlife habitat.
The work to protect homes on
Willowbank Island, in New Denham, near Uxbridge,
began on September 4 and is programmed to finish
by February next year. The work is taking place
in autumn to avoid disturbance to breeding birds
and spawning fish that use the area.
Project manager Steve Whipp
said: "The flood protection bank between
Poplar Road and Alder Road is one of four constructed
in 1988 to protect the homes on Willowbank Island
from a 1% (1:100) annual risk of flooding. However,
since then the riverbank has eroded undermining
the flood defence.
"We fully investigated
why the flood defence was failing before developing
a solution. Consulting with the Willowbank Association
and the residents whose homes back on to the riverbank
has helped ensure both the residents and environment
will benefit from the final design. With funding
approved we can now begin to restore this defence
to its original standard of flood protection."
The erosion reduced the width
of the riverbank so that water seeped through
when the river level was high following heavy
rain. The work currently underway will place a
waterproof barrier of sheet piles down through
the riverbank to stop the water seeping through.
The face of the riverbank will
then be rebuilt to its original width. The bank
will be protected against future erosion by rock
in the river and strong matting, with grass growing
through it, on the face of the riverbank.
The rock in the river will be
covered in a layer of gravel to keep the riverbed
as a spawning site for the healthy fish population
of the river while reeds and grasses will be planted
along the water’s edge. Some ash and alder trees
will be planted to replace trees that had to be
removed.
"The work is planned to
be finished by February next year, but obviously
working during the autumn and winter can be unpredictable
and high water levels may extend the work. However,
we are working to ensure that disruption to residents
and the environment will be kept to a minimum,"
added Steve.
Notes:
Our contractors, J Breheny Contractors
Ltd., are carrying out the work supervised by
our engineering consultants, Atkins.
The total cost of the project
is £920,000 and is funded by Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Grant in Aid to the Environment Agency.
Flood warnings are now available
online The new website, which is available in
English and Welsh, provides at-a-glance information
on the number and type of flood warnings in force
across England and Wales. The information is updated
every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The site is very easy to use.
In addition to the standard summaries, users can
search by postcode, town or river. The site is
linked to our Floodline pages so people can find
out more about the flood warning service and how
to prepare for a flood. See www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwarnings
