Michelle Dolphin - 15-Nov-2007
- This week, the Environment Agency started
work along the Horsbere Brook, Gloucestershire,
to build new defences that will help to
protect Cypress Gardens, which was so badly
affected by this summer’s floods.
The work, which will be carried out by
our Operations Delivery team will include
re-profiling the stream and the construction
of a small earth bank, about 30cm high,
along the brook. They expect to finish this
work by the end of next week.
In addition to the work we are doing now,
we are looking at what we could do to provide
even better flood protection for this community
in future. We will be looking to see whether
we can provide defences that will protect
the community from a flood with a 1% chance
of happening in any one year.
Flood Risk Manager, Anthony Perry, says
“Cypress Gardens suffered badly during the
summer floods this year and, as we do with
all communities in a similar plight, we
are looking at what we can do to help prevent
it happening again.
“We are already on site carrying out work
that will improve the flows in the brook
and raise the banks a little to provide
more protection in the short term. We are
also trying to identify other options that,
in the longer term, might enable us to defend
this community to modern standards.
“While our work will reduce flood risk,
flooding is a natural event that cannot
be prevented completely. We urge people
living nearby to prepare for flooding as
there are things they can do to help reduce
the damage and distress. Find out what you
can do to prepare on our website www.environment-agency.gov.uk,
or by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.”
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Environment Agency monitors turkey carcass
disposal
Michelle Dolphin - 14-Nov-2007 - The Environment
Agency is monitoring an operation to dispose
of 6000 turkey carcasses at John Pointon
and Sons Ltd in Cheddleton, North Staffordshire.
As a result of the current Avian Flu outbreak
on a farm in Suffolk, the turkeys have been
culled and will be processed at the rendering
plant at the request of DEFRA and Animal
Health officials.
The birds will be transported in leak-proof
trailers and are due to arrive on site in
the early evening of Tuesday 13 November.
Contingency plans for Avian Flu have been
activated on the Pointons site and Animal
Health officials will be present and overseeing
the processing operation.
The site operators estimate that the processing
will be complete within six hours of arrival
on site, following which the buildings will
be thoroughly disinfected. All meat and
bone meal produced during this process will
be sent off site and incinerated at an appropriate
facility.
Dave Lowe, Environment Manager from the
Agency, comments: ' Our role is to ensure
that the company operates within the terms
of their Pollution Prevention and Control
permit. The conditions of this permit are
designed to protect the local environment.
‘This number of turkeys represent a relatively
small proportion of the daily through-put
of the plant. I wish to reassure residents
that we will ensure that the company take
all necessary precautions to protect the
environment. Environment Agency inspectors
will be visiting the site during the operations.’
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Environment Agency to the rescue of stranded
fish
Alexandra Wales - 14-Nov-2007 - Officers
from the Environment Agency will come to
the rescue of fish from a site at Staveley
near Chesterfield which would otherwise
become stranded when the current owners
of the site leave.
Rhodia have now ceased operation and cleared
their 160 acre site off Hall Lane, Staveley,
which used to manufacture sulphuric acid
and chlorine for a wide range of industrial
uses. A 900m long millstream runs through
the site.
Water used to be taken from the millstream
for use by the chemical factory, but now
that the site has been cleared, the millstream
will no longer be maintained.
Fish currently live in the millstream,
which provides good habitat for a range
of wildlife is now likely to silt up over
time. If no action is taken, then the fish
would eventually die.
As part of Rhodia’s decommissioning programme
the Environment Agency was contacted and
requested to assist in arranging the fish
removal and relocation in the River Rother.
On the 14th and 15th of November, using
a combination of netting and electrofishing,
a team of six Environment Agency officers
will catch the fish. Electrofishing involves
using an electric current to stun the fish
which are then collected in nets. The fish
will be moved to a specialised transporter
trailer, in which they recover in oxygenated
water before being moved to their release
site.
The fish in the millstream all descend
from fish washed in from the River Rother,
either during floods or during the day-to-day
operation of the site. Fish present include
roach, rudd, tench and bream; all popular
species with anglers. However, being on
a private site, it has not been possible
to fish for them. Once removed from the
millstream, the fish will be released into
the nearby river, joining the fish that
are already there.
Jerome Masters, Environment Agency fisheries
officer said: “If we don’t take action when
Rhodia leave the site then the fish will
eventually die when the watercourse silts
up. Over two days, Environment Agency officers
will catch the fish and move them into the
River Rother. We know that the Rother supports
good numbers of fish and is popular with
anglers. It shouldn’t take them long to
settle in their new home.”
