Flood defence work due to start next spring

The start date was released by the Environment Agency, which is inviting Northwich residents to quiz agency staff next week about plans for the new flood defences.

Plans for the £4.5 million Northwich flood risk management scheme on the rivers Dane and Weaver are at the detailed design stage.

Planning permission for the scheme is due to be submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council by the end of this month.

If everything goes to plan work is due to begin by early March 2015, and construction will take about a year.

The agency said that currently the most viable options include building flood walls and other structures in the town centre.

Agency staff will be at Northwich Marina at North Quay near Waitrose on Wednesday and Thursday, September 17 and 18, to give people information about the scheme and answer any questions.

“By working with Cheshire West and Chester Council we have secured more than £4 million to build flood defences in Northwich town centre that will reduce the risk of flooding to 700 homes and businesses,” said Dave Brown from the agency, who is leading the team designing the defences.

“We now want to discuss our plans with the local community so we make sure we build a flood risk management that suits the needs of local people.

“Please come and have a chat with us at our stand on to find out more about our plans or discuss any ideas or concerns you may have.”

The stand will be open between 10am and 7pm.

The flood risk management scheme will cost £4.5 million, and Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Environment Agency made a successful bid for £2 million from a fund set by The Treasury following extensive flooding across the UK in 2012.

The council is contributing £500,000 towards the scheme, and “indicative funding” worth £2 million has been secured from the Government’s annual Flood Defence Grant in Aid funding programme.

A video on You Tube about the scheme is called Northwich Flood Defences.