PLANS for a major flood risk management scheme, providing one in 100 year protection from the Mersey to a wide area of Warrington, are to be considered by the borough council’s development management committee.
The application has been submitted by the Environment Agency, but the borough council is a stakeholder in the project, potentially contributing up to £3.4 million towards the total cost.
Areas to be protected are Howley, Latchford, Padgate, Bruche and Woolston.
A report to be considered by the committee on Thursday says the most “public facing” aspect of the scheme is probably a new and re-located entrance to Victoria Park.
But there will also be work inside the park, modifications to Knutsford Road, relocation of bus stops and pedestrian crossings, the closure of Weir Lane and demolition and rebuilding of an extension to a garage building in Knutsford Road.
Objections have been received from 11 residents, some on the grounds that the work will result in “ugly concrete walls” and others pointing out that there has been no flooding for 100 years.
Some express anger over the loss of gardens, trees and loss of access to the riverbank. Others complain the scheme does not include measures to protect specific areas.
The work will be carried out in three phases.
First phase will be the south bank of the Mersey from Kingsway Bridge to the Bridge Foot roundabout, including works at Brook Place, off Knutsford Road, Black Bear Park, Victoria Park and Weir Lane.
Phase Two will deal with the north bank of the river over the same stretch, including Howley Lane, the Warrington Rowing Club headquarters, Howley Suspension Bridge, Farrell Street, Wharf Street and Vernon Street.
The third phase will involve both banks of the Mersey from Kingway Bridge upstream to Woolston, including Padgate and Spittle brooks.
More than 2,000 homes and businesses in Warrington are said to be at risk of flooding, with the risk increasing due to climate change.
6 Comments
By restricting the natural flow, won’t the pressure/volume then find release by flooding the Eastford Rd area and Chester road?
I could present a list of 100 things to WBC that require money spending on, the banks of the rarely burst River Mersey would be at number 100 at the very most.
I have lived all my life in various parts of the “Flood Zone” and never been remotely worried and certainly never got close to being flooded even when living on Chester Road some 50 mtrs from the bank….
gross, unnecessary, over spending, on an unsightly carbunkle………. but that’s not really anything new when it comes to Warrington Town Centre.
Yep. Not rocket science, is it Silver? Still don’t know why the OWNERS of the properties “at risk” aren’t paying for this. After all, they’re the ones who’ll profit from it in increased property values and reduced insurance premiums. If the property owners don’t think this scheme is worth paying £17K each for then why should the rest oof us?
In 23 years, the only time that the floods occurred caused some minor inconvenience along Knutsford Rd and maybe 12 inches along a 100 yard stretch of Chester Rd.
Another knee jerk reaction to the “supposed” global warming.
Just another spend of money that WBC simply have not got!! What is it about these people that they just cannot understand that we are broke. This is surely not of a high priority and ought to be put on the back burner until some time in the future when, just maybe, we could have the funds available.
Yet another example of public funds being used to provide the infrastructure for further housing development and aid developers profiteering???