Climate Report - Hull and East Riding properties at 'significant risk' of flooding

HULL AND THE EAST RIDING have the highest number of properties at risk from flooding of all local authorities in England. In the last 10 years the East Riding has seen a 12% increase in developed land that that is considered to be at significant flood risk.

This stark assessment has been presented in a report published by the Committee on Climate Change who are independent advisers to the Government. The report Adapting to climate change in the UK comments on how well the UK is prepared to deal with climate change and risks.

“The results in this report demonstrate how a sharper focus on the UK’s current vulnerability to climate can improve the way we prepare for climate change. By taking steps to manage this vulnerability, local communities, businesses and households can save money today and reduce the costs of climate change in the future." 

Lord John Krebs

Points of local interest to note from the report are:

• Hull and East Riding have the highest number of properties at risk from flooding of all local authorities in England and one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines.
• The Environment Agency categorises a 'significant risk' of flooding as one where there is a greater than 1 in 75 chance that weather severe enough to cause a flood, will overwhelm defence structures or lead to their failure. The East Riding has seen a 12% increase in land at significant flood risk since 2001.
• Good practice is recognised in the Holderness District Local Plan which imposes strict controls on developments near its eroding coastline in order to reduce vulnerability to flooding.

The report sets out a series of actions, which if implemented more widely could reduce the affects and costs of climate change. These include:

• Flood protection - package of measures to reduce damages from flooding e.g. air-brick covers, door-guards and drainage bungs.
• Tighter regulations on new housing to improve their adaptability.

You can download the report Adapting to climate change in the UK from the Commission on Climate Change website.

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Vital pumps to prevent Burstwick flooding

Graham Stuart MP

LOCAL MP, GRAHAM STUART has helped secure two diesel pumps which will be used to prevent a repeat of the 2007 floods in Burstwick.

After bringing together local councillors, anti-flood campaigners and the Environment Agency, the Beverley and Holderness MP has said in a press release has that the vital pumps were being ordered:

“So much work has already been done to protect Burstwick from more flooding and the only thing which was missing was these two pumps. Local residents have volunteered to man the pumps and a farmer has agreed to store them so the only thing which had not happened was the pumps being bought. We are just days away from the fourth anniversary of the 2007 floods and so it is high time this situation was resolved.”

The Environment Agency will spend £10,000 on two six inch pumps. Local residents will be trained in how to operate them during times of extreme rainfall and farmer Andy Gray has offered to store the machines on his property.

Link: Graham Stuart MP

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Exercise Watermark - Preparing for catastrophic flooding

EMERGENCY SERVICES from across the East Riding of Yorkshire are taking part in the nation’s biggest emergency exercise today as part of a week of national activities.

Hull and East Yorkshire local authorities, emergency services, the Environment Agency and central government are simulating a flood caused by a major tidal surge and will test their ability to respond, including planning major road closures and evacuations. Senior officers from all the agencies are taking part in the exercise at County Hall, Beverley today (Wednesday 9 March 2011).

Exercise Watermark will test national and local preparedness for catastrophic flooding from overflowing rivers, collapsing reservoirs and tidal surges across England and Wales.

Agencies including Humberside Fire and Rescue, police, the coast guard, Environment Agency, ambulance service, Army, RAF, hospitals and major businesses are all participating in this or other exercises during the week.

These organisations will work with central government bodies such as the COBRA emergency committee and the Cabinet Office to test responses to a major tidal surge and surface water flooding over four days. The tidal surge scenario is one of the ‘core’ activities which will be tested during the national exercise.

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New Flood Warning symbols

THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY is making changes to its Flood Warning service. The changes are expected to take place on 30th November and will see the use of new flood symbols and alert messages.

The changes have been implemented by the Agency in order to make their messages more easily understandable and simplify the guidance given during flood alerts.

• Flood alert - will indicate that flooding is possible and that you need to be prepared.
• Flood warning - will indicate that flooding is expected and that you should take immediate action. You should take action when a flood warning is issued and not wait for a severe flood warning.
• Severe flood warning - will tell people that there is severe flooding and danger to life. These will be issued only when flooding is posing significant risk to life or disruption to communities.

The new symbols are explained by the Environment Agency on its website at New flood warning codes and you can also find information on Being prepared for flooding and specifically on signing up to Flood Warnings Direct.

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Holderness floodworks update

CONSTRUCTION OF FLOOD DEFENCES, which started in July 2009, to reduce risk to 450 properties in Burstwick and Hedon has been completed by the Environment Agency. The new banks and strengthened existing defences are now watertight as work continues to complete the cosmetic aspects of the £3 million scheme.

“Work in Hedon has been particularly complex because of the number of properties along the banks of Burstwick Drain,” said Environment Agency project manager Jamie Wolstencroft.

“Now the scheme is watertight the new and improved defences greatly reduce the risk of flooding to hundreds of properties in Burstwick and Hedon.”

According to the Environment Agency the flood defences will reduce the chance of flooding from Burstwick Drain to 0.5 per cent in any one year - the risk was previously about 10 per cent.

In Hedon, low spots in existing banks alongside Burstwick Drain have been raised, or sections of flood walls built, to provide a consistent level of protection to more than 350 properties.

In Burstwick, two new 1.5-metre high embankments have been built, reducing the risk of flooding to more than 100 in Burstwick, mainly in Skeckling Close.

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Consultation on River Hull flood proposals

PUBLIC CONSULTATION on proposals to manage flood risk from the River Hull and other main watercourses in the area is taking place. Views are also being sought on the draft Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP) for the River Hull and Coastal Streams.
 
The Environment Agency’s draft River Hull Flood Risk Management Strategy outlines how investment of £109 million is needed over the next 20 years to manage flood risk to some 100,000 homes and businesses in East Yorkshire.

The draft Strategy looks at current and future flood risk for the River Hull and streams which feed into it and takes account of climate change.

Information on the draft River Hull Flood Risk Management Strategy can be found on the Environment Agency’s website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/riverhullstrategy.

Information on the draft CFMPs can be found on the Environment Agency’s website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cfmp then follow the link to Yorkshire & North East.

There will be a number of public events during the consultation process, which runs for 12 weeks from 21 May until 13 August.

Dates and venues will be announced shortly for combined events for the draft River Hull Strategy and the CFMP.

Two further drop-in events will take place outside the River Hull Strategy geographical area, and will focus on the CFMP, at:

• Ottringham Village Institute, Station Road, Ottringham, on Thursday, 27 May;
• Shiptonthorpe Village Hall, Shiptonthorpe, on Thursday, 3 June.

Both events take place between 2pm and 7pm.

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Burstwick Drain Improvements

THE FIRST STAGE of a national flood management pilot scheme along the stretch of Burstwick Drain from Hedon to Saltend has resulted in noticeable changes. Contractors commissioned by the Environment Agency have used cranes, excavators and water based craft to remove silt and cut back trees, shrubs and vegetation.

The work is part of a major study which aims to show whether watercourse maintenance has any significant effect on reducing the risk of flooding.

The Evironment Agency has said that it will "systematically monitor" the impacts of this work. Project Manager, Phil Walker said:

Burstwick Drain is one of six sites around the country where we are taking a detailed and scientific look at these issues. Information from the East Yorkshire trial will be collated from the findings and previous research. We can then use that information to guide our future maintenance work and target our spending to achieve the biggest benefits.”

Other useful related information: National Flood Forum

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Hedon Flood Watch Alert Service implemented

THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY issued a Flood Watch for the Holderness area including Hedon last Friday evening 26th February 2010. Residents may have received phone calls, text messages or e-mail alerts from the Agency at about 8:15pm on Friday.

The alert warned residents that recent heavy rainfall combined with high tides were keeping levels high on Burstwick Drain.

Residents were advised to ring the Floodline for up-to-date information and tune in to local weather and travel bulletins and spread the message to other family members and neighbours.

Water levels were indeed high as the photo here shows taken at New Road, Hedon on Saturday morning about 6:30am.

Meanwhile measures by the Environment Agency to defend residents and properties from flooding continue today in the Hedon area.

A watercourse maintenance trial on Burstwick Drain, Hedon has already started with weed cutting but today the Agency will bring in long-reach excavators to begin removing gravel and silt.

For further information on the Flood Watch alert service then see the Environment Agency website or to sign-up to Floodline Warnings then telephone the Floodline on 0845 988 118.

Note: The Hedon Blog Twitter service will aim to forward Flood Alert messages received from the Environment Agency in the future.

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