Update on Environment Agency plans for Haydon Brook

3 September 2010

Regular visitors to this site will know that we have been pushing the Environment Agency (EA) hard for about three years now to make improvements to the Haydon Brook particularly in the areas that suffered flooding in July 2007.

There have been some minor works done in recent months but we are now advised that a decision on the full proposals is imminent.

We have been advised:

"The Environment Agency (EA) will present the Project Appraisal Report (PAR) for the Haydon Wick Flood Alleviation Scheme to the Project Appraisal Board (PA B ) on the 7th September 2010. PAB will then meet on the 16th September 2010 to evaluate the scheme viability on technical, economic and environmental criteria and against other national schemes to decide if the project will receive funding and move into the construction phase.

"The EA have undertaken an extensive feasibility study of the Haydon Wick Brook and surrounding area. The study has incorporated modelling of the Haydon Wick Brook, including the surface water network run-off impacts on the watercourse. The final EA proposed scheme due to be presented at the EA's PAR is considered to be the most viable option for alleviating the flooding in the area of Haydon Wick Brook. The scheme broadly consists of walls and embankments with environmental mitigation where applicable. The scheme is designed to protect approximately 100 residential proprieties, 4 commercial premises and 1 electricity substation for flooding events up to and including the 1 % annual probability flood event plus an allowance for climate change. SBC as professional partners and scheme partner have been consulted and worked closely to assist the EA in the provision of information and guidance on the local issues relating to the scheme. These include planning process, footpath/highways requirements, technical requirements etc."

Cllr David Renard said "We will report back later this month as soon as we know the outcome of their deliberations."