Lyn Fraley - 17-Jan-2007 - The Environment Agency met the
Attenborough Flood Alleviation Scheme focus group yesterday
evening (Tuesday, 16 January 2007) to present its final
proposals for the alignment of the planned flood defences
at Attenborough, and give community representatives an opportunity
to see the new designs.
We have reviewed our earlier proposals and after a great
deal of consultation and research, we decided that, while
a flood wall along 'The Strand' through the village remains
the best option, there are changes we can make that will
improve the scheme for local residents.
We have listened very carefully to what they and other
organisations have been saying to us. As a result, we have
changed the line of the proposed flood wall. It will now
continue along The Strand, rather than going around the
bowling green as originally proposed.
This will reduce the impact on the bowling green, as well
as its impact on the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).
There are some technical problems associated with this change,
but we are confident that these can be overcome.
The new flood wall will be clad with materials that will
complement the village’s conservation area status. It will
also be enhanced with sympathetic planting, which will be
covered by a five-year maintenance contract.
During our study, we gave serious consideration again to
all the options available to us. This is the option that
provides the best flood protection for Nottingham at a viable
cost while still enabling us to meet our environmental obligations.
Project Manager, Malcolm Dineley, said: "We considered
all our options again very thoroughly before finalising
our proposals. We listened carefully to what residents told
us and I hope the changes we have made will help to address
their concerns.
"The option we have chosen is the most feasible both
technically and financially, protecting Nottingham from
the damage and distress caused by flooding, while doing
as little damage as possible to the environment. At Attenborough,
as elsewhere, we will build the defence as sensitively as
possible, keeping disruption to a minimum."
We have written to all Attenborough residents who have previously
contacted us about the scheme, describing our latest proposals,
which mark the end of our consultation process on the flood
defence plans for Attenborough.
The next step is for us to submit the designs to the local
authority in March 2007 with an application for planning
permission. The planning process provides additional opportunities
for people to comment on the plans, should they so wish.
Notes to Editor
Artists impressions of the planned defence wall are available
on request to Lyn Fraley on 0121 711 5829/5855.
