West Moor flood storage area
Published 30 March 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/west-moor-flood-storage-area/west-moor-flood-storage-area
The notice
Announcement of intention not to prepare an environmental statement - Regulation 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Land Drainage Improvement Works (Amended) Regulations 1999 SI 1999/1783.
The work
The Environment Agency gives notice that it proposes to carry out essential public safety works, known as ‘Measures in the Interests of Safety’ or ‘MIOS’ in the West Moor Flood Storage Area (FSA) (NGR ST 41631 23480), near Midelney in the district of South Somerset. The Environment Agency is required by law to undertake the MIOS works before July 2025, in accordance with its obligations under the Reservoirs Act 1975.
The proposed MIOS works will involve the following:
- construction of a new, temporary access track from Midelney Road to Midelney Pumping Station
- earthworks to formalise the crest height of the Isle Spillway. Installation of a concrete toe beam and crest beam
- installation of a new siphon between the West Moor and South Moor flood storage compartments, including new headwalls and areas of hardstanding for maintenance access
- installation of a new gravity outfall and associated channels (earthworks)
- raising of the embankments around Midelney Pumping Station
- decommissioning of the existing siphon and gravity outfall
The MIOS are intended to restore the FSA to safe operation in accordance with its existing flood management functions. They are not intended to change the function or operation of the FSA in any way.
The MIOS works will be delivered under the Environment Agency’s Permitted Development rights, as conferred by The Town and Country Planning Act (General Permitted Development (England) Order 2015 (Part 13, Class D).
The Environment Agency considers that the MIOS works are not likely to have significant effects on the environment and does not intend to prepare an environmental statement in respect of them.
Instead, a non-statutory Environmental Report (ER) has been prepared in accordance with the Environment Agency’s Minimum Technical Requirements (MTR) for a ‘no change’ project. The ER documents the assessment of the potential effects of the project on the environment and identifies any mitigation measures required to avoid significant adverse effects, and/or reduce and minimise any residual adverse effects. The environment team, which includes specialists in ecology, heritage/archaeology, landscape, water, etc have worked actively with scheme engineers and the principal contractor to incorporate proposed environmental mitigation measures into the temporary and permanent works design.
In addition, an Environmental Action Plan (EAP) has been developed for this project to ensure that environmental risks are well managed before, during and after construction. An Environmental Clerk of Works (ECW) has been appointed to monitor the project’s performance against the requirements of the EAP and to ensure that the mitigation measures specified have been implemented in full.
Any person wishing to make representations in relation to the likely environmental effects of the proposed MIOS works should do so, in writing, to the address specified below, within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice, by 1 May 2023. Please note that copies of the ER are available on request.
Michael J Lancaster
Senior Project Manager
Environment Agency
Manley House
Kestrel Way
Exeter
EX2 7LQ