Lower Derwent Flood Risk Management Strategy

The public meeting at St. Paul’s Church Hall on the 21st October to discuss the Environment Agency’s strategy to manage future flood risk was well attended by local residents.

Tim Ive and his three colleagues from the Environment Agency gave presentations covering a wide range of issues, including existing defences, climate change forecasts, local archaeology, flood warning awareness, upstream land management, development and planning issues and a “Blue Corridor Vision”.

The “Blue Corridor Vision” would involve aligning defences to a new line through Chester Green and Derby City Centre, to provide increased protection and a wider area for water to move through during a flood.
This would reduce the height to which defences need to be built, would have no adverse impact on water levels upstream and a smaller impact on water levels downstream. This option would have environmental benefits including improved access to the river and opportunities for a more natural riverside. However, close consultation and co-operation with Derby City Council and other agencies would be required to implement it.

It was evident from some of the questions raised that there was some confusion over the “Blue Corridor Vision” and some frustration that specific details of the location of new flood defences were not available.

Tim Ive responded by explaining that this first stage of the consultation process is about agreeing the general principles of the strategy and they would be consulting on more detailed proposals at a later stage. Tim also confirmed that the Environment Agency would hold a surgery at
St. Paul’s Church Hall on December the 4th, so residents can discuss concerns on a one to one basis.

Tim has responded since the meeting to say “On the timetable issue, once the consultation has closed down on the 10th December, 2008, unless we get major objections, we will submit a formal business case next Spring, but this will take time to get approval, hopefully next summer. If that is approved, then we would be looking to develop specific projects. So it is possible, but not certain, that towards the end of next year we would be consulting on more detailed proposals”.

If you would like more information from the Environment Agency on this subject – Call them on: 08708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8-6)
e-mail: enquiries@evironment-agency.gov.uk
website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

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