Bewdley residents to find out about flood scheme at drop-in event
The Environment Agency is inviting residents of Bewdley, Worcestershire to find out more about plans for a permanent flood defence scheme at a drop-in event.
Artist's impression of the new flood scheme for Bewdley
The event, taking place on Tuesday 27 June at St George’s Hall in Load Street in Bewdley from 12 noon to 7pm, will be a chance to learn about the Beales Corner Flood Risk Management Scheme and talk to Environment Agency staff.
Planning permission for the scheme was granted earlier in the year and work on the scheme is starting this summer. When complete it will help to better protect homes and businesses when the River Severn floods.
Environment Agency Operations Manager for the West Midlands Anthony Perry said:
“We’re looking forward to welcoming residents to our drop-in event and answering any questions they may have before construction begins. The project is a much-needed flood risk management scheme for Beales Corner. Flooding can be devastating, and this scheme will help to significantly reduce the risk of flooding to the town.”
Beales Corner is subject to significant flooding from the River Severn and has a long history of flooding. Most recently in 2020, 2021 and 2022 where homes and businesses were flooded, and the wider community impacted.
After the flooding in 2020, funding was made available by the Government for impacted communities, enabling the Environment Agency to consider a flood risk management scheme for the Beales Corner area of Bewdley and keep the main Kidderminster and Stourport roads into the town open at times of flood.
Preparation work has already begun on the scheme with vegetation removed along the waterfront on Beales Corner in February. This took place before bird nesting season and the Environment Agency will undertake off site tree planting, enhance woodland areas and improve areas of grassland to compensate for vegetation loss and achieve a significant biodiversity net gain for the project.
Since then topographical surveys along the riverbank have been carried out and utilities companies also surveyed to prepare for utility diversions. Other work includes a bathymetric survey to measure the depth and map the underwater features of the river to support the design of the scheme.
Construction work on the scheme is expected to start this summer and will take approximately 18 months to two years to complete.
Background information:
You can find out more about the Beales Corner scheme here:
https://bealesfrms.virtual-engage.com/
Residents and local groups are reminded if they would like to receive our newsletter and updates, they should email contact details to BLBFRMS@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Alternatively, they can call our National Customer Contact Centre during office hours on 03708 506 506 and they will be added to our mailing list.
To find out if you are living in a flood risk area and for information about how to sign up for flood alerts and warnings, please visit the Environment Agency website or contact Floodline on 03459 88 11 88.
The Government’s investment in flooding has doubled to a record £5.2 billion between 2021-27, creating around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences to better protect 336,000 properties across England