Funding for flood schemes welcomed
12 May 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Grants for funding to protect homes from flooding have been formally accepted by the council.
The projects, in Cramlington, Morpeth and Berwick, will be wholly funded by the Environment Agency and have been welcomed by the council’s Cabinet.
The Cramlington Sports Club Surface Water Flood Alleviation Scheme will cut flood risk to ten properties. At present, residents of Latton Close, Lamonby Way and Longhirst Drive, Cramlington are regularly experiencing flooding issues caused by water coming off the Sporting Club playing field to the north of their properties.
Options are still being evaluated and being discussed with the Environment Agency and residents. The scheme will cost around £65,000.
In Morpeth, the Loansdean Surface Water Flood Alleviation Scheme will significantly reduce flood risk to nine properties in the Chip and Fairway which regularly experience flooding issues caused by water flowing over an area of green space locally known as Herons Field. Again, options are being evaluated and being discussed with the Environment Agency and residents. This project will cost around £45,000.
And in Berwick it’s planned to install a flood gate at Spittal Quay to significantly reduce flood risk to three properties and the road in the West End area of Tweedmouth which are regularly experiencing flooding issues caused by tidal waters from the Tweed Estuary. This will cost around £25,000.
All these schemes are expected to get underway in the coming months.
Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: “These schemes will make a real difference to residents who regularly face flooding issues caused by heavy rain or high tides.
“We’re aiming to get on site and get these works underway as soon as possible.”
Councillor Nick Oliver, who represents the County Council on the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, added: “The Council works closely with the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water on flood defence schemes right across our county and it’s great to see three more schemes being implemented. Living with the prospect of flooding is not easy for the residents affected.”
Leila Huntington, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, said: "We have worked closely with our partners at Northumberland County Council to help them develop these schemes which will better protect a number of properties from the risk of flooding
“We understand how devastating the effects of flooding can be on families and communities, and these projects will help reduce flood risk and offer improved peace of mind for residents.
“We are committed to mitigating and reducing flood risk across the North East and these are fantastic examples of how we work closely with our partners and through the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee to ensure funding is allocated and invested appropriately to achieve the best possible outcome for our communities.”
The funding awarded from the Environment Agency is initiated by the Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (NRFCC). RFCCs were established under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, to bring together the authorities responsible for managing flood and coastal erosion risk.