Flooding Update
| flooding_in_appleby_magna_jan_2022.pdf |
Update from the Flood Resilience Group Jan 2022
FLOODING IN APPLEBY MAGNA - WHAT IS HAPPENING?
It has been several months since our last update, so we wanted to write to you to let you know what’s been happening.
WHAT’S HAPPENED?
On Weds 12th January 2022, a resilience group meeting was held at the cricket pavilion, and the following representatives attended:
Over the past 18 months, the Resilience Group has continued to meet the following organisations every month:
A summary of what has happened in the past 6 months is:
In recent times when the sewerage system was over-capacity, Severn Trent deployed tankers to pump water into tankers to reduce the pressure on the system. Also, more recently, reacted quickly to calls to sort the manhole issue on Stoney Lane.
Severn Trent are nearing the end of a modelling exercise whereby they assess the flow of sewage across the network, and assess flow speed, any blockages, and any leakages. This work identified a leak near the junction of Duck Lake and Black Horse Hill. This was fixed in 2021. This work is also beginning to demonstrate the need for additional capacity across the network, in particular the size of the pipes, and potentially the capacity of the pumping station. Once complete, this modelling work will result in a recommendation for works. This then needs to be subject to a review within Severn Trent to establish if it will be funded. From the resilience meeting on 12th January, it seems there are many competing projects trying to attain funding across Severn Trent’s areas of responsibilities. The Severn Trent spokesperson said it was ‘likely’ that the project would be granted funding. Whilst he seemed reticent to confirm potential timescales if this happened, it seems that if the funding was approved in 2022, it would be 2023/24 when the work would be completed.
Severn Trent have also concluded a detailed assessment of different parts of their sewage network across the village. They identified 8 manholes across the village that were allowing surface water to access their network, and between January and April 2021, they repaired them to ensure this additional water did not put extra pressure on the system.
Leicester County Council (LCC) have completed their Section 19 Flood Report, from the incident in Nov 19 and Feb 20, a copy of which can be found here: Flood investigation final report - Appleby Magna - November 2021 (leicestershire.gov.uk)
LCC have also started the process of trying to secure funding for Trent Rivers Trust (TRT) Home: Trent Rivers Trust: Biodiversity and River Heritage to provide some resilience for the village. TRT have undertaken significant reviews of the village, using detailed computer models, historic maps and site visits during both dry and wet seasons. Understanding the flow routes of the surface water during times of rain helps TRT understand where additional storage could be beneficial, through Natural Flood Management, some examples of which can be found here: Natural Flood Management (trentriverstrust.org) It is likely that if the funding is released, one of the proposals will be to gain agreement from the landowner of the field adjacent to Bowleys Lane to install bunds, which act in times of heavy rainfall to store and therefore slow down the flow of water into the culverts, ditches and brook.
The Resilience Group, in conjunction with the Parish Council purchased three storage units, to store flood resilience equipment, including high-vis vests, torches, gloves, gel sandbags and flood warning signs. These are located in Blackhorse Hill (on the walkway to Hillside), Mawby’s Lane (behind the bus stop) and on the recreation grounds Bowleys lane. In the eventuality of a flood, the resilience group, flood wardens and Parish Council members can access them to help the resilience of the village.
The resilience group, through the Parish Council, have managed to purchase one sensor, with a second to be considered. Locations for these are being researched, and these sensors would be used to alert the village when the levels of the brook reach a high level.
Keep Britain Tidy are keen to work with the village, through the resilience group to help keep the waterways clear of debris. The Resilience Group will be arranging an Environment Day in Spring, so please look out for notification of the date and please do come along if you can support.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The Resilience Group will always need your support, including who we contact, how we act and what we record:
Lastly, the Resilience Group need to understand your views and questions so that they can best represent you when talking to various organisations. Please contact us at: resiliencegroupapplebymagna@gmail.com with anything you want us to ask on your behalf, and any ideas you have for what could be done, both short term and long term. Please include your name, and house number and road number when you email.
NEXT STEPS?
Due to Covid-19, the Resilience Group have had to move to online communications only. Please make sure you encourage your friends and neighbours to email the Resilience Group to ensure they have everyone’s’ contact details, so they can send regular updates and obtain your views. If you know of a neighbour who cannot email, please can you either send an email on their behalf and/or print out this newsletter for them.
THANK YOU!
Finally, the Resilience Group want to thank everyone in the village for their great determination to make things better, for the amazing community spirit and for working so well together to help us all overcome this challenge.
FLOODING IN APPLEBY MAGNA - WHAT IS HAPPENING?
It has been several months since our last update, so we wanted to write to you to let you know what’s been happening.
WHAT’S HAPPENED?
On Weds 12th January 2022, a resilience group meeting was held at the cricket pavilion, and the following representatives attended:
- James Hobby & Simon Parkinson - Severn Trent Water
- Andrew Smallwood - Leicester County Council (LCC)
- Sue Mitchell and Kevin Jones - Appleby Magna Parish Council
- Nathan Pratley, Jo MacPhail & Sally Clough - Appleby Magna Resilience Group
Over the past 18 months, the Resilience Group has continued to meet the following organisations every month:
- Leicestershire County Council (who are the lead local flood authority for NWLDC area)
- Severn Trent (who manage the combined sewer system)
A summary of what has happened in the past 6 months is:
In recent times when the sewerage system was over-capacity, Severn Trent deployed tankers to pump water into tankers to reduce the pressure on the system. Also, more recently, reacted quickly to calls to sort the manhole issue on Stoney Lane.
Severn Trent are nearing the end of a modelling exercise whereby they assess the flow of sewage across the network, and assess flow speed, any blockages, and any leakages. This work identified a leak near the junction of Duck Lake and Black Horse Hill. This was fixed in 2021. This work is also beginning to demonstrate the need for additional capacity across the network, in particular the size of the pipes, and potentially the capacity of the pumping station. Once complete, this modelling work will result in a recommendation for works. This then needs to be subject to a review within Severn Trent to establish if it will be funded. From the resilience meeting on 12th January, it seems there are many competing projects trying to attain funding across Severn Trent’s areas of responsibilities. The Severn Trent spokesperson said it was ‘likely’ that the project would be granted funding. Whilst he seemed reticent to confirm potential timescales if this happened, it seems that if the funding was approved in 2022, it would be 2023/24 when the work would be completed.
Severn Trent have also concluded a detailed assessment of different parts of their sewage network across the village. They identified 8 manholes across the village that were allowing surface water to access their network, and between January and April 2021, they repaired them to ensure this additional water did not put extra pressure on the system.
Leicester County Council (LCC) have completed their Section 19 Flood Report, from the incident in Nov 19 and Feb 20, a copy of which can be found here: Flood investigation final report - Appleby Magna - November 2021 (leicestershire.gov.uk)
LCC have also started the process of trying to secure funding for Trent Rivers Trust (TRT) Home: Trent Rivers Trust: Biodiversity and River Heritage to provide some resilience for the village. TRT have undertaken significant reviews of the village, using detailed computer models, historic maps and site visits during both dry and wet seasons. Understanding the flow routes of the surface water during times of rain helps TRT understand where additional storage could be beneficial, through Natural Flood Management, some examples of which can be found here: Natural Flood Management (trentriverstrust.org) It is likely that if the funding is released, one of the proposals will be to gain agreement from the landowner of the field adjacent to Bowleys Lane to install bunds, which act in times of heavy rainfall to store and therefore slow down the flow of water into the culverts, ditches and brook.
The Resilience Group, in conjunction with the Parish Council purchased three storage units, to store flood resilience equipment, including high-vis vests, torches, gloves, gel sandbags and flood warning signs. These are located in Blackhorse Hill (on the walkway to Hillside), Mawby’s Lane (behind the bus stop) and on the recreation grounds Bowleys lane. In the eventuality of a flood, the resilience group, flood wardens and Parish Council members can access them to help the resilience of the village.
The resilience group, through the Parish Council, have managed to purchase one sensor, with a second to be considered. Locations for these are being researched, and these sensors would be used to alert the village when the levels of the brook reach a high level.
Keep Britain Tidy are keen to work with the village, through the resilience group to help keep the waterways clear of debris. The Resilience Group will be arranging an Environment Day in Spring, so please look out for notification of the date and please do come along if you can support.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The Resilience Group will always need your support, including who we contact, how we act and what we record:
- The resilience group is run by volunteers with one member of the Parish Council also attending. Due to some people moving out of the village, we really need and want to get more residents involved, as we are very keen to ensure the great achievements to date do not slow down, or worse still, cease. It takes around 3 hours a month, and just requires someone to be interested in helping the village be as resilient as possible, and have access to a computer/laptop as most of the meetings are virtual. If you are interested in joining, please email ‘resiliencegroupapplebymagna@gmail.com’
- The village needs a number of Flood Wardens, and at present, there are only two. The training is online, takes one day, and once trained, allows Flood Wardens to help coordinate responses, arrange distribution of resources and generally support the village in times of flooding. If you are interested in becoming a flood warden, please contact cllr.sue.mitchell@apmagpc.com
- Please report all flooding issues to the following authorities. The more people that report it, the more we can collectively achieve.
- Call Severn Trent on the incident number 0800 783 4444 (record the log number)
- If there is sewage coming up to road level and then going down the drains on the road, call the Environmental Agency on 0800 80 70 60. Inform them of the issue and quote the Severn Trent log number. Please advise them that raw sewage is going into the brook which goes straight into the River Mease and is having an impact on the River Mease SAC (Special Area of Conservation).
- Please send an email to the below email address with the above reference numbers, along with any photos and/or videos you have to the Resilience Group email address: resiliencegroupapplebymagna@gmail.com
Lastly, the Resilience Group need to understand your views and questions so that they can best represent you when talking to various organisations. Please contact us at: resiliencegroupapplebymagna@gmail.com with anything you want us to ask on your behalf, and any ideas you have for what could be done, both short term and long term. Please include your name, and house number and road number when you email.
NEXT STEPS?
Due to Covid-19, the Resilience Group have had to move to online communications only. Please make sure you encourage your friends and neighbours to email the Resilience Group to ensure they have everyone’s’ contact details, so they can send regular updates and obtain your views. If you know of a neighbour who cannot email, please can you either send an email on their behalf and/or print out this newsletter for them.
THANK YOU!
Finally, the Resilience Group want to thank everyone in the village for their great determination to make things better, for the amazing community spirit and for working so well together to help us all overcome this challenge.
