Flood defence scheme nears completion

A SCHEME to reduce flood risk to hundreds of homes on two Grimsby housing estates is nearing completion.

Over the past 11 months, the Environment Agency has created a new flood defence bank on the New Cut Drain as part of its Freshney Washland Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The work is due to be finished within the next few days.

The defence will reduce the risk of flooding to properties on the Willows and Wybers Wood estates.

Andrew Barron, of the Environment Agency, said: "When we leave the site we will have seeded the flood banks but we will temporarily leave all other areas as bare earth.

"This is so that the ground is ready for our landscapers to plant trees and shrubs during the autumn planting season.

"We have worked with North East Lincolnshire Council on the landscaping for the flood storage reservoir. The landscaping will help the council achieve its aim to improve wetland habitats and encourage wildlife in the area as part of its Jubilee Woods Project. The council will continue to manage this open land."

Native shrubs, including hawthorn, blackthorn and wild rose, will be planted next to the new steel piled wall behind properties on Grasby Crescent and Anderby Drive.

The planting scheme will take into account the views of residents shared during drop-in events at the start of the project. Exact timings for the landscaping will depend on weather conditions. All public access routes and footpaths will be re-opened once the construction site has been cleared.

In addition to work on the bank between the New Cut Drain and the Willows Estate, the Freshney Washland Flood Alleviation Scheme has seen changes made to the Freshney Washland Flood Storage Reservoir.

This includes the removal of sections of the bank that separates the New Cut Drain from the reservoir to allow more water to be stored during high river flows.

The work has been closely monitored by the three Freshney ward councillors, Peggy Elliott, Cliff Barber and Ray Sutton.

Councillor Elliott said "We have asked the Environment Agency to consider an extra safety fence near a wide open culvert they have created. We've also looked at whether the benches that were paid for through ward funding will be replaced properly and whether the new planting and maintenance will be as good as new for nearby residents."