With work on the £50 million first stage set to be finished next month, Leeds City Council along with the Environment Agency, BMM jV Limited, Thomas Mackay and Arup have released details of the further measures required for phase two.
The range of measures proposed are a mixture of natural flood management and new infrastructure including;
• Creating new woodland areas by planting hundreds of thousands of tree saplings
• Where possible, using sites in Leeds to retain flood waters when levels are high. Control gates would be used to fill and then release water from the stores back into river when safe to do so
• A new 700-metre long flood defence at Stourton with new walls and surface water interventions similar to those installed at Woodlesford as part of phase one
• Removing existing obstructions along the river to help reduce water levels, along with also lowering the riverbed in places to improve its capacity and flow
• Improving riverbank protection measures along the river catchment in Craven and Pendle along with enhanced woodland areas and installing debris dams
-- Advertisement --
• Constructing raised defences along with landscaping, terracing, embankments and walls, but due to the range of natural measures the height of any engineered defences will not need to be as high as previously projected.
The proposals for phase two represent the outcome of an extensive survey and feasibility study of the river catchment carried out by Leeds City Council and the Environment Agency following the devastating impact of Storm Eva at Christmas 2015, to determine the level of future protection needed to provide vital reassurance to residents and businesses.
An eight-week consultation on the plans has been launched today, 21 September and will run until 16 November.
Members of the project team will be available at the following events to explain the options, answer any questions and seek views:
• Monday, 02 October, 3pm to 7pm, Horsforth Community Hub, Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds
• Thursday, 12 October, 3pm to 7pm, Radio Aire, 51 Burley Road, Leeds.
• Thursday, 19 October, 10am to 1pm, George & Dragon pub (car park).
• Thursday, 19 October, 2.30pm to 5.30pm, The Church (car park).
• Saturday, 28 October, 9am to 1pm, Kirkstall Leisure Centre, Kirkstall.
• Sunday, 29 October, 12pm to 3pm, Kirkstall Abbey Deli Market.
Cllr Richard Lewis said: "The response to these plans when they were released last week was very positive, especially the use of new trees and natural flood management measures along the catchment to help provide essential protection for communities in Leeds.
"It is now vitally important we hear the views of residents and businesses so I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation and attend these drop-in sessions.
"Following an extensive study agreed with the government and other agencies these are the measures identified as being necessary to offer the level of protection needed which the government said it would provide, so we look forward to seeing these plans develop as soon as possible."
(LM)
