THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY is about to start flood defence work at Hedon to improve the flood protection for over 350 properties.
They will be raising the low spots in the existing flood banks along Burstwick Drain, starting tomorrow 23 November 2009. The town suffered during the major region-wide floods of 2007.
The work will be complicated by the number of properties lining the banks of Burstwick Drain, where the only access is through private gardens.
The Agency’s project manager, explains:
This could be slow and complicated work, as our contractors will have to enter each property separately and carry materials in by hand. Where we need access we’ll be giving two weeks notice, but the majority of properties will be unaffected until after Christmas. The contractors are Jacksons Civil Engineering, and they’ll be doing all they can to minimise disruption and inconvenience, especially when they are working on people’s properties. There could also be an increase in road traffic.”
The flood defences will reduce the risk of flooding to houses if Burstwick Drain overflows. Currently, the chance of flooding occurring if Burstwick Drain overtops is about 10 per cent in any year. By building these flood defences, it is intended to reduce the risk to 0.5 per cent in any year.