Worcester MP Robin Walker has broken the ground on a new flood-risk management scheme at Toronto Close in the Lower Wick area. Homes have flooded on the street on a number of occasions, and Robin has fought hard to deliver a solution to protect homes in future.
The Environment Agency has started work, in collaboration with Worcestershire County Council, on the £2.5 million flood-risk management scheme to help better protect homes in Toronto Close.
Toronto Close has a history of flooding from the River Severn and River Teme, which impacts the water level of the nearby Laughern Brook during and after heavy rainfall. In July 2007, 16 properties flooded, with the depth of water reaching up to 800mm. Further flooding took place in 2020 during Storm Dennis, when many residents had to evacuate their homes.
Robin said:
“It is a huge relief to see flood defences finally being built for Toronto Close. I want to thank Ray Grundy for his patience, persistence and determination as he has campaigned over eight years to get this scheme in place. Along with other residents he has made the case for a scheme that will protect the homes and community for many years to come and he has kept on making the case politely but with determination through multiple challenges.
“The Environment Agency has been working on a scheme for some years and they have done a great job of working with local residents and councils to ensure it can go ahead. Along the way we faced challenges from planning, from Covid and from inflation caused by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. This meant that the original £1 million ear marked for the scheme would not be enough.
“I remember standing with Rebecca Pow on a soaking wet and windy Sabrina Bridge during the 2020 floods and arguing the case for a frequently flooded communities scheme and it is to her great credit that she listened and delivered that, which provided the extra £1.5m to enable the flood defences to go ahead.
“I know that since the 2014 floods local residents have gone through a huge amount of worry each year when the waters of the Teme have risen, but I am hopeful that with work now underway, this will be the last year in which they need to closely watch the gauges and fear the risks of water coming into their homes. Thanks to Worcester city council, the county, the EA and DEFRA for getting this work underway but most of all thanks and congratulations to the residents of Toronto close. It is a story of great determination and effort from all concerned and I am glad to have played my small part in making it happen.”
Charles Chandler, area flood-risk manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“We know the devastating impact that flooding can have, and, sadly, has been experienced first-hand by some residents of Toronto Close. We are very pleased to be starting work on this flood risk management scheme for the road to better protect homes from flooding.”
Councillor Richard Morris, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for the environment, added:
“We’re delighted that work on this scheme is about to begin. Homes in Toronto Close have suffered with flooding in the past and this work will significantly reduce the impact in future, and benefit the residents.”
The scheme starts in open ground to the west of Toronto Close and ties into high ground at Teme Court. It is approximately 255m long and consists of an embankment across open land and through residential gardens along Laughern Brook as well as the strengthening and rebuilding of the existing historic wall along Old Road.
Two flood gates will also be installed in front of existing accesses from Toronto Close onto Old Road. These gates will normally be open, and only closed in the event of a flood.
The crest height of the embankments and walls is based on historic flood level and the structures will, at their highest, be around 1.5m above existing ground level, reducing the risk of flooding to properties within Toronto Close from flooding like that experienced in 2007 and 2020.
Work has begun by contractor Alun Griffiths after the scheme successfully secured planning permission in September.