Dr H M Buckland letter

Added 4/11/2008

Letter from Dr H M Buckland of Grimsby dated 30/10/08

Baxendale1.wps

Dr H M Buckland Email harrybuckland2@msn.com

18 Augusta Close

Grimsby, NE Lincs

DN34 4TQ

Tel 01472 322148

30/10/08

Andy Baxendale Area Manager

Environment Agency

Waterside Hse, Waterside North

Lincoln LN25HA

Dear Mr Baxendale

Austin Mitchell, MP for Grimsby forwarded your letter dated 16/10/08. I hope you will not think me patronising when I say residents will find it refreshingly factual.

As I surmised water levels relate to ordnance datum (mean sea level), being the average height between high and low water at Newlyn. As part of monitoring Freshney Flood Plain I have recorded levels of 2.4.to 2.8 at Great Coates Bridge during the last year. Can we assume this is the normal level and therefore that the ABP pumps at the Riverhead will kick in at a level of say 3.4m?

At the residents meeting immediately following the floods of 2007 (sadly the EA and Anglian Water were unable to attend), a representative of ABP told us that only one of their pumps was operating as they were unaware of the river level upstream. Presumably the newly-installed telemetry stations at Great Coates Bridge and Cromwell Road will deal with this problem. The hydraulic sluice at New Cartergate clearly has a role in this control mechanism.

Weed cutting by NELC appears satisfactory; however the Soke Dyke along the West side of the Freshney remains seriously choked and a broken concrete culvert, now invisible, has not been repaired. (Photo attached). The South Bog between the Green Bridge and Town’s Holt Culvert is permanently full to overflowing which of course means that it is not available for storage if a flash flood occurs. I have myself observed 5 leaks from the Eastern Bank of the Freshney into the drains alongside leading me to question the integrity of the banks. This could and should be checked, perhaps by the use of fluorescent dye or short-life radio-active substances.

Householders remain to be convinced that the welfare of Natterjack Toads, Great Crested Newts, Roman Snails, Water Voles and the rest does not take precedence over we humans who fund the Environment Agency; put another way these protected species must not used as an excuse to save money.

Residents look forward to the detailed survey promised for this December but would remind you it was originally due in June 2007, meantime householders hoping to sell for whatever reason remain in limbo.

I copied this letter to Mr Mitchell and the members of Floodwatchers.

Yours sincerely

Dr H M Buckland Email harrybuckland2@msn.com

18 Augusta Close

Grimsby, NE Lincs

DN34 4TQ

Tel 01472 322148

Letter from Andy Baxendale to Austin Mitchell MP

creating a better place

Environment

Agency

Austin Mitchell MP Our ref: CCN/2008/20468

House of Commons Your ref: London

SW 1 A OAA Date: 16 October 2008

Dufal i¹11A:7i~i i

Thank you for your letter of 3 October regarding the enquiry received from your constituent, Dr. H Buckland. I will deal with each of Dr Buckland's points in turn.

1. The pumps at the riverhead are automatic and turn on when the water level reaches pre-set levels. Each pump comes on in turn as the water level rises, however, all 3 pumps will run if the water level is 300mm (1 foot) above normal. The pump operating levels are set in relation to Ordnance Datum (OD). The pumps operate to ensure water levels are maintained at appropriate levels.

2. Following the 2007 Floods we reviewed our weed cutting programme. Where requiredwe will carry out weed control 3 times a year on the Freshney. In 2008 the first cut was completed in May and a second cut in August. If required, the third cut will be carried out in early November.

3. Following the flooding in 2007 we undertook to complete a detailed survey of the river channel and floodplain, including a new computer model of the Freshney system to help us improve future flood risk management. I expect the model and study to be complete before Christmas this year.

4. Freshney Bog forms part of the formal flood storage area that helps reduce the flood risk to Grimsby from the River Freshney. Excess flood water is diverted into the storage area by means of an overflow weir in the bank of the Freshney, with the water released back in to the river at a controlled rate as the flows recede.

5. My staff visit the pumping station/culvert site regularly and have not reported any blockages. The culverts (bridge) at Cromwell road are checked weekly and cleared if required. The only gate controlling flows on the Freshney is the tilting gate and this has always operated to maintain the set level.

6. We have no direct control over premiums set by insurance companies with regards to property insurance. I am therefore unable to comment on how this affects properties in Anderby Drive.

The likelihood of flooding to Anderby Drive is assessed as being Moderate (Moderate chance of flooding each year is 1.3% (1 in 75) or less). We provide flood risk data to the insurance industry to enable them to comply with the ABI Statement of Principles on the Provision of Flood Insurance. This identifies that where the likelihood of flooding is moderate or low, ABI members will offer cover in the normal way. The data is not a pricing tool - the licence agreement under which it is supplied to the ABI strictly forbids this. Insurers should use it in combination with their existing data in deciding whether or not to offer cover.

I hope this will reassure your constituent, but should you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact me directly on 01522 785836 at our Lincoln office.

Yours sincerely

Andy Baxendale Area Manager

Waterside House, Waterside North Lincoln, Lincoln, LN2 5HA. Customer services line: 08708 506 506

Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk