Salmon’s Brook flood
alleviation scheme changes shape

Today (Thursday 6 November 2008) the Environment Agency has released further information about plans to reduce the risk of flooding in the Edmonton area.

The Salmons Brook flood alleviation scheme will provide protection to 1600 homes.

Initial plans were to develop a scheme that would reduce the flood risk to these 1600 residential properties across the Edmonton and Enfield Southgate constituencies, as well as 100 commercial properties on the Eleys Estate in Edmonton Green.

However, further investigations have found that the proposed work around the Eleys Estate would result in an increase in flood risk downstream of the scheme.

As a result of this, and in order to reduce the flood risk to 1600 residential properties in Edmonton as soon as possible, the Environment Agency is unable to develop flood defences for the Eleys Estate at this time.

Steven Lee, Environment Agency project manager, says: “We recognise that it is disappointing news for people and businesses on the Eleys Estate.  In the future we may be able to re-examine reducing the flood risk on the Eleys Estate taking into account the technical issues we have found.”

Steve Whipp, Flood Risk Management technical specialist added: “It is important we progress with the two flood storage areas in World’s End, Enfield, and flood defences near Montagu Road, Edmonton, to protect 1600 homes in Edmonton as soon as we are able.”

The removal of the proposed works at the Eleys Estate is the only alteration to the scheme.  The designs for the flood storage areas at Hog Hill and Enfield Golf Course, and bank raising and culvert works near Montagu Road in Edmonton will continue to be developed.

The Environment Agency has written to the affected land and business owners on the Eleys Estate to advise them of the situation.