How the Environment Agency is managing the risk of flooding in the future at Beales Corner/Wribbenhall, Bewdley, Worcs
Updated 20 February 2019
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-the-risk-of-future-flooding-in-bewdley-worcestershire/how-the-environment-agency-is-managing-the-risk-of-flooding-in-the-future-at-beales-cornerwribbenhall-bewdley-worcs
1. What’s happening?
Beales Corner in Bewdley, Worcestershire has a long history of flooding. Since 2007, temporary flood defence barriers have been used to reduce the risk of flooding.
In September 2014, the Environment Agency completed a technical review of the temporary defences. Focussing on a number of criteria, the review highlighted that providing property level protection was the most suitable long-term solution for managing flood risk in this location. Property level protection is able to provide a higher standard of protection to more properties and offers the best use of public funds.
More details on the criteria, the review and findings can be found on Bewdley Town Council’s website
2. Property level protection
Property level protection is where a range of flood resistance and resilience measures, are used on individual properties to reduce the risk of flooding. The most common product types used are flood gates, flood doors, removable barriers and air-brick barriers, designed to fit across openings to prevent water entering the property during a flood.
We prioritise products that can be built in where appropriate and are cost effective. These include automatic door guards, flood proof doors, resilient windows and frames and self-closing air-bricks. An accredited survey is required to identify the most appropriate measures for each property.
Property level protection in Bewdley will reduce the risk of flooding for 44 properties, whereas the current temporary barriers, only reduce the risk of flooding for 19 properties in the area.
3. Timeline of next steps
Our contractor, WaterTight, completed property level protection installation for non-listed properties in January 2017, and work on listed properties by July 2019. Post Inspection Audit reports are being undertaken by our consultant, JBA. These assessments will be concluded by July 2019.
| When | What will be happening |
|---|---|
| March 2019 | Third phase of installation of property level protection measures into listed properties by our contractor, Watertight. This will include all of the remaining measures (except the flood doors). Any minor corrections will also be completed. |
| July 2019 | The fourth phase of installation of the new Timber Flood Doors for 8 listed properties will start. |
| Until March 2020 | Through a partnership approach with Bewdley Town Council and local community volunteers, deployment of the temporary barrier will continue in the short term as necessary and until a provisional date of March 2020. The approach will be reviewed periodically. |
4. Bewdley’s temporary barriers
The temporary flood defence barriers provide low level flood protection to 19 homes. However, in a larger flood event water will find its way around the end of the barriers. Since 2007, the barriers have been deployed ten times due to potential flooding. However, the barriers only got wet and were, therefore, only necessary to protect homes on three of those occasions.
5. History of flooding in Bewdley
Bewdley sits on the River Severn and has experienced a number of major floods in 1947, 1965, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008 and most recently in 2014. The highest river level was recorded in 1947 as 5.82 metres at the Bewdley gauge. February 2014 saw the highest river levels since the barrier trial began. Flooding is also caused from groundwater and surface water flooding.
6. Working with the local community
Since 2015, the Environment Agency has been working with Bewdley Town Council, the Wribbenhall Flood group and community volunteers to develop a partnership approach to allow the temporary barriers to continue until at least March 2020. We have worked with local residents since 2011 through drop-in sessions and surveys, to ensure that feedback from the community, was used in the technical review of the temporary barriers. Bewdley Town Council are the lead for coordinating the community plan, which addresses 3 important factors: risk mitigation, joint communications and reduction of costs in deploying the barrier. Other partners include Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, the Local Community Flood Group, Worcestershire County Council and Severn Trent Water.
If you would like to offer your help please contact Bewdley Town Council via email at townclerk@bewdley.org.uk or call: 01299 400157
7. Find out more
If you have any questions or comments regarding the Property Level Protection Scheme in Bewdley, or the trial of the temporary flood barriers at Beales Corner, please contact us at pso.midswest@environment-agency.gov.uk.