Nottinghamshire County Council flooding officers announce £15m investment to stop future flooding in Newark, Southwell and Mansfield

A total of £15m has been spent on flood risk schemes across Nottinghamshire, it has been confirmed.

County council flooding officers updated members on the continued work to reduce the risk of flooding to properties in Nottinghamshire where 18 schemes are in progress.

The initiatives, run and funded in partnership with other agencies and communities, aim to help those at greatest risk and include engineered designs, natural flood management and measures to make homes more resilient to surface water flooding.

The schemes, either in the stages of feasibility, development or delivery, cover Southwell, Newark, Egmanton, Lowdham, Thurgarton, Gunthorpe, Calverton, Girton, Cropwell, Sutton-on-Trent, Titchfield Park, Arnold, Newthorpe, Normanton on Soar, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, Clarborough, Gotham and Mansfield

At present, 78,700 properties are estimated as being at risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and smaller watercourses across the county, and more than 480 localised reports of flooding have been investigated in the last 18 months.

Phil Rostance, vice-chairman of the council’s communities and place committee, said: “I have seen first-hand how flooding devastates communities and I am pleased that today’s report demonstrates the continued position of the council in relation to its flood risk responsibilities.

“As a lead local flood authority, the county is committed to taking an active role and continues to work closely with partners, including communities, to mitigate the local flood risks across the county.”

With regard to the Newark Flood Alleviation scheme, Severn Trent will soon complete its £60m project to improve the water and waste network in Newark, delivering significant improvements to highway and surface water drainage.

A contribution from the county council allowed the installation of an additional 43 gullies across Newark.

The Environment Agency is continuing to develop the outline business case for a flood alleviation scheme to protect Lowdham with a view to submitting their business case in spring 2019.

The first part of the Egmanton scheme, concerning the village centre, was completed in 2017, however, proposals to protect the village further are still in negotiations with landowners and are being led by the Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board.

In Thurgarton, the Internal Drainage Board is continuing to pursue cost-effective options for the catchment ahead of seeking funding.

In Gunthorpe, the county council is working with the Environment Agency ­— which has the lead role ­— to develop proposals to protect the village from flooding.

The early partnership working between the county council and Severn Trent in Calverton has led to Severn Trent securing significant investment to deliver a capital improvement project.

The project is currently in detailed feasibility stage.

Investigations in Cropwell Butler were completed in 2017.

The council is working with the Environment Agency to explore the possibility of developing a deliverable scheme to protect Girton, which suffers from main river flooding.

Following severe flooding in 2018 in Sutton-on-Trent, the county council worked with the Internal Drainage Board to understand the causes and ways to reduce the risk of future occurrences.

The Internal Drainage Board and county highways carried out some repairs and improvements.