Bank repair works will reduce risk of flooding

13-Jan-2012

The Environment Agency started work this week to repair sections of a 10.6km stretch of the River Till and Cricket Till between Odder Bridge on the A57 and Normanby By Stow.

The works will ensure the banks continue to reduce the risk of flooding to farmland and properties at the current one per cent or 1 in 100 chance.

Michael Melnyczuk, of the Environment Agency’s Asset System Management Team, said: “We have identified several minor defects in the banks along this stretch of the River Till. The works we are carrying out will strengthen the bank before these get a chance to deteriorate. This will reduce the risk of flooding and make it safer for our operational staff to maintain and strengthen the bank during flood conditions.” 

The River Till forms the north-west part of the Witham catchment. The Environment Agency’s Till Washland Flood Storage Reservoir is located on the river.

The washland is able to store 3.2-million cubic meters of water – equivalent to 1,280 Olympic-sized swimming pools. It is one of two that help reduce the risk of flooding to Lincoln during periods of high flows.

Work will include carrying out minor re-profiling of the top of the bank and repairing several areas where the side has slipped and become eroded. It will be carried out by machinery which will be moved along the bank and used to excavate material from damaged sections before they are rebuilt.

Letters have already been sent out to landowners who will be affected by the works.

The River Till bank works, which are costing £85,000, are expected to take eight weeks to complete.