Tracey Hollis - 21-Dec-2007
- The Environment Agency’s flood experts are
working across the region inspecting flood
banks and defences to make sure they are ready
for the winter months.
Six months on since the summer floods, the
Environment Agency’s operations delivery staff
have been clearing debris and blockages from
river channels and culverts as part its maintenance
programmes to lower the risk of flooding.
Around £330,000 is being spent clearing
debris and repairing the damage caused by
this summer’s flooding along rivers and waterways
in Sheffield. The team spends around £150,000
in Sheffield annually on maintaining the city’s
waterways, but this year more money has been
found from the budget to fund the extra cost.
Since the floods, Environment Agency officers
have been working on major channel clearance
works including:
clearances on sections upstream of Leppings
Lane through to Meadowhall;
large tree and blockage clearances in Loxley
particularly between Rowel Lane bridge and
the confluence with the Don, which is done
on an annual basis;
major gravel clearance works around the Sheaf
at Little London Road and large concrete bed
repairs and ecological improvements on a section
downstream of Healy Bridge;
checking and clearance of the Sheaf trash
screen at Granville Square twice weekly;
culvert inspections carried out annually to
ensure that culverts are not blocked with
debris and that their condition has not deteriorated;
and thorough checks of the Blackburn Brook
area every winter for fallen trees and blockages.
Environment Agency operations delivery manager
Sue O’Neill said: “There has been a lot of
work done already, but there is still a lot
to do to help Sheffield’s waterways recover
from the floods.
“As winter approaches, and most of the emergency
work has been done, my team has started on
their annual maintenance programme for the
city.”
Approximately 1,200 homes and 1,000 businesses
were flooded in Sheffield area in the summer
floods.
Since June, staff have received more than
50 reports from members of the public about
debris in waterways across Sheffield which
have been investigated, prioritised and action
taken.
Teams also cleared massive amounts of debris
in the Niagara Weir area and downstream towards
Hillsborough and three weeks were spent clearing
large trees and blockages from the rivers
Sheaf and Loxley.
Additional culvert inspections throughout
Sheffield began in August to make sure that
flood waters have not carried debris into
any of the culverts, which could result in
full blockages and further flooding.
The Environment Agency provides for flood
protection from main rivers and designated
smaller watercourses. It clears away debris
only if there is a risk of flooding, and has
to prioritise the work to make sure that those
which need urgent attention are done first.
Since the floods we have:
• Monitored river levels and rain gauges
to assess the future risk of flooding – this
was particularly important in the immediate
aftermath of the floods when the ground was
already saturated with water.
• Attended over 30 public surgeries to answer
questions about the floods and also to find
out more information about what happened from
you.
• Talked to our staff involved in the floods
about their experiences to find out where
things went well and how we can improve for
the future.
• Talked to our partners such as local authorities
and fire brigade about how we worked with
them and what we can all do to improve for
the future.
• Conducted a review (we do this after every
major flood) to identify lessons learnt and
good practice. This is available on our website
at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/2007summerfloods/
Since the floods we are:
• Maintaining and repairing flood defences,
including the installation of temporary defences
where needed.
• Gathering information about the floods
to improve our forecasting models and risk
mapping.
• Raising awareness of flood risk and providing
information about what to do to prepare for
flooding.
• In close contact with the Independent Government
Review team to make sure we share data and
information about the floods.
• Talking to our partners about reviews that
they are undertaking to ensure we work together
to improve management of flood risk in the
future.
• Commenced a catchment–wide study to look
at what options are available to reduce flood
risk.
