River Tame flood risk management works begin in Perry Hall

23-Feb-2011

The work involves removing material from the 100 metre long inflow weir to the Flood Storage Area. The weir is the lowered area in the bank located just upstream of the concrete bridge.

The crest of the weir will be lowered and then reinstated with a grassed bank and concrete path to match the adjoining areas.

The spillway which diverts flood water into the storage area will then operate at lower water levels.  Environment Agency spokesman John Outram said ‘The water stored in Perry Hall Playing Fields will reduce flood risk to people and property downstream and provide the Witton and Perry Barr areas with an increased standard of protection’.

The project will cost £136,000 and is being carried out with the support of Birmingham City Council who own the park.  Concrete excavated from the weir will be crushed and recycled to improve facilities for park users by filling potholes in the nearby car park.

The works will be completed by our own workforce and are expected to last until the end of March.

This work is the first stage in a longer programme of works planned through the Tame Strategy. The Strategy covers approximately 100km of the River Tame through Birmingham and surrounding areas, to its confluence with the River Trent north of Tamworth. 

The Strategy has been approved and will be launched in spring 2011. A project is now underway to review the short term (five year) measures recommended in the Strategy. A business case is currently being drawn up outlining the cost of the individual schemes, to apply for future funding.  

Subject to approval of the business case, detailed design will start in spring 2012. With construction work for the short term measures identified under the Strategy expected to start in 2013. This work will consist of new defences, raising of existing defences and in some cases replacement of existing flood defence assets which have reached the end of their useful life.