THE ENVIRONMENT Agency has revealed more information about flood defence developments in Ashbourne, which the organisation says will benefit more than 220 properties in the town.
Funds, sourced from the Flood Defence Grant in Aid, have been secured to complete the Flood Risk Management Scheme.
The design for the downstream works has been completed and a contractor — Interserve Project Services Ltd — has been appointed to build the flood defences.
The planned downstream works have been split up in to separate planning applications for Churchfields, Sainsbury’s, and Coopers Gardens.
An application has been approved for earth bunds in the field next to St Oswald’s Church and to the rear of the recycling bins in Sainsbury’s. The wall level next to Coopers Gardens will also be raised.
Defence improvements between Compton and Station Road have also been approved. Existing walls will be repaired and certain bank levels are to be raised.
The Environment Agency has also warned that works around the Fishpond will involve the temporary closure of some footpaths. However, the agency has said that alternative routes will be made available.
When completed the access path along the top of the earth bank will be improved, with a new surface.
The final phase of the project is to create a larger flood storage area within the Memorial Park.
This area will be used in major weather events to store flood water from the Henmore Brook.
To create the larger flood storage area, the agency are planning to build a flood defence wall from the end of the existing flood bank near to the entrance to the park tying in to the existing park boundary wall.
This work should begin in the summer.
The agency has said that they are ‘dedicated’ to providing environmental enhancements.
In the agency’s latest newsletter it says: “We considered options to create increased margin habitat within the Fishpond by lowering the level of the weir between the two ponds, however, this is not now possible.
“The environmental enhancements can extend to include general improvements for community benefit, and so we are currently in discussions with Derbyshire Dales District Council over potential improvements within the Memorial Park, including improvements to some of the paths that form part of the Heritage Trail.
“In addition, we are in discussions with local Wildlife Trusts over the creation of habitats, particularly for water voles, otters and bats along the Henmore Brook, and also Ashbourne Angling Club about potential improvements to the Fishpond.
“At certain locations along the Scheme to allow flood defences to be built, there will be the need for some tree removal.
“However, any tree removal will be kept to an absolute minimum, and great measures will be taken to protect remaining trees during the construction work.
“Where any trees are removed we are committed to re-planting at suitable locations within the town, and we will be working with the town and district council.”
