How can we reduce flooding in north Reading and Lower · North Reading and Lower Caversham have...
Transcript of How can we reduce flooding in north Reading and Lower · North Reading and Lower Caversham have...
What causes flooding in Reading and Caversham?
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
North Reading and Lower Caversham have flooded many times in recent years. In 2012 and 2014, low lying areas of
Caversham flooded, causing internal flooding to residential and commercial properties in the area. You may also
remember the flooding in 2003, where many houses were surrounded by floodwater and a number of roads, including
Napier Road, Amersham Road, Paddock Road, Send Road and Piggots Lane were closed, some for as long as 5 days.
The Environment Agency maintains rivers and streams and operates weirs and locks in and around Reading and
Caversham. This work reduces flood risk from smaller, more regular floods, but more significant flooding cannot be
reduced by watercourse maintenance alone. The best scientific evidence suggests that severe weather events are likely
to be more frequent and more intense in future, increasing the risk of flooding across the United Kingdom.
We are investigating how we can reduce the impact from a major river flood on a scale similar to 1947. A similar sized
flood would cause major disruption to the local economy, access routes and residents at large. It would create road
blockages, transport disruptions and could cause water damage to homes and businesses. We take climate change
projections into account in all modelling and planning work. Based on for the likelihood of more frequent flood events,
we have identified a range of options which could reduce flooding in the north Reading and lower Caversham area. All
options we are investigating reduce flooding from rivers, however surface water flooding is still a risk.
There is still a significant amount of investigation required, we are sharing the options with you now to gain your views
so we can take them into consideration when deciding which, if any, of the options we can take forward.
Photograph source unknown
Major floods, on the scale of 1947 are very
rare… history shows they do happen, and
could happen again.
1947 flooding
What have we done so far?
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
Planning flood map
Environmental surveys and ground investigation
We have completed surveys to help us understand the
Ecology in the areas where we could develop a scheme to
reduce flooding. These have included surveys to establish
what species may be present in the areas the works may
take place. You may have seen our contractors carrying out
ground investigations using diggers or drilling rigs as shown
in the photograph. We have to carry out this work early so
we can find out what may or may not be possible.
We are continuing our programme of surveys over the next
few months. We will plan these to ensure there is as little disruption as possible.
What areas are at risk of flooding from the
River Thames?
To work out how we can reduce flooding we must
first understand the flooding mechanisms in the
Reading and Caversham area. The main risk of
flooding in north Reading and Lower Caversham is
from the River Thames. Due to the flat urban
landscape of Reading flood water can remain for
long periods of time.
The flood map represents the existing flood risk from
the River Thames. The dark blue shows areas that
are likely to flood in a large flood, we have not
recently experienced a flood of this size. The closest
comparison is the flooding in 2003 which was
smaller. The lighter blue shows the additional areas
that would flood in a major flood, such as was
experienced in 1947.
Large flood Major flood Main river
A Flood Alleviation Scheme for north Reading and Lower Caversham?
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
We have looked into a number of different ways to reduce flooding, the techniques here we
have considered and may be used in combination with other techniques. On their own they
only reduce flooding from smaller floods. For major floods they need to be used along side
permanent measures such as flood walls and embankments.
Property level resilience
Property level resilience involves making changes to individual
properties to reduce the risk of floodwater entering homes and
businesses. It can be used in combination with larger
flood alleviation schemes to reduce flooding.
Temporary barriers
Due to the length of temporary barriers that would be needed to reduce flood risk in this area, it would
not be practical to rely on these alone. Some areas are not possible to access to get barriers in place. In
combination with other techniques temporary barriers could be beneficial.
Diverting flow
We have looked into whether
diverting flood water through the
area would reduce flood risk.
This is very difficult to achieve
due to the lack of space, without
severely impacting existing
residential areas.
Flood storage areas
On its own there is not enough
room to hold the amount of
water needed to reduce
flooding from major events.
In combination with other
techniques to reduce flooding
this could be beneficial.
Example of Temporary
barriers being tested.Environment Agency members
setting up temporary barriers.
Often prevention is the best
strategy.
There are a number of property
level resilience products, including
flood doors, door barriers,
automatically closing airbricks, non-
return valves and sump pumps to
avoid or minimise water getting
inside a property. The level of their
effectiveness would be limited here
because flood water can remain
high for a number of days. However
they could still help to reduce
severity of flooding, especially if used in combination with other methods
A Flood Alleviation Scheme for north Reading and Lower Caversham?
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
Dredging can be an important part of maintenance but is not
enough on its own to reduce flooding from a major flood.
The Environment Agency maintains rivers and streams and operates
weirs and locks. This work reduces flooding from smaller, more
regular floods, but more significant flooding cannot be reduced by
watercourse maintenance alone.
Dredging can be an important part of the Environment Agency’s
general maintenance programme. We consider each location
carefully and do it where we know it will make a difference.
Understanding where dredging will and won’t reduce flooding is
essential. We must be sure it will reduce flooding to local homes and
businesses and won’t increase flood risk downstream.
Dredging the River Thames would not significantly reduce flood risk
in this area. In many cases, dredging isn’t the best long-term solution
because rivers can quickly silt-up again. It can even increase flood
risk. Studies have indicated the River Thames itself is self-regulating.
Dredging can be costly, disruptive and environmentally damaging,
and would require frequent re-dredging as the natural tendency of all
rivers after dredging is to deposit silt and return to their more natural
dimensions.
Why isn’t dredging an alternative? Can natural flood
management help?
These are processes that enhance the
natural features of a river, to reduce
flooding impact on a community. Methods
include slowing flow of water, improving
soil quality so more water is absorbed and
creating more areas for water to be
stored.
These techniques can help reduce
flooding from minor floods in some areas.
In this area they would not help reduce
flooding from major floods.
Flood walls and embankments
Embankments are raised lengths of land which will be grassed to give
them a natural look.
Flood walls can be made of different materials depending on where
they are. Where possible we would design a flood wall to blend in
with the surrounding area.
All options that we are considering involve a combination of
permanent flood walls and embankments.
The photo gives and example of what a flood wall can look like. Photo courtesy of the Environment Agency
Options to reduce flooding in north Reading and Lower Caversham
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
We have been investigating options to reduce flooding from the
River Thames in the Lower Caversham and north Reading
area. All proposals shown here are in the early stages of design
and may change as a result of feedback from this engagement
and new information that arises as we develop a design.
We would like your views on which option you think we should
take forward. We are running a consultation which we hope you
are able to respond to. We will use the feedback in combination
with technical information when deciding which option we can
develop.
All options include building flood walls and embankments. The
difference between the options is in the length of the flood walls
and embankments. Option 1 is the shortest, option 2 is an
extension of option 1 and includes some temporary defences,
option 3 is the same as option 2 with the addition of further
embankment and walls to the south of the River Thames..
Option 4, not shown on a diagram here, is to do no new work,
but continue with our existing work which includes maintaining rivers and streams and operating weirs and locks.
As we increase the length of the flood walls and embankments
we increase the area that would benefit from reduced flood risk
from the River Thames. However, we also find that the cost of
building the scheme increases and we would need to secure extra funding to be able to deliver these.
As with all schemes it is essential that we do not increase flood
risk to other communities as a result of our work. We are
investigating ways in which we can ensure there would be no
increase in flood risk to others, as a result of any of the options.
If after further investigation we find it is not possible to reduce
flood risk in these areas without increasing flood risk to other
communities then we will not continue with these options, even if the public consultation shows them to be a favoured option.
An overview of the options we have been considering and would like your views on…
Option 1, Nire road to Christchurch playing fields
Option 2 – Nire Road to Promenade Road
Option 3 – Nire Road to Prominade road
including Waterman Place to Reading Bridge.
Options being considered to reduce flooding
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
This is the shortest length of flood walls and embankments. It begins at Ruskin Road near the Berry Brook and
ends at Westfield Road Playgroud, off Gosbrook Road. You can see approximately where the wall and
embankments could go on map 1 below. Please note that as we are in the early stages of the project the exact
location of these flood walls and embankments is likely to change slightly from the alignment shown as we
progress the detail of the design.
Our initial investigations into Option 1 show that this option will reduce flood risk to homes, businesses roads
and infrastructure currently at risk of flooding from the River Thames. It will reduce the risks for floods up to a
similar size as was experienced in 1947. The 1947 flood was a major flood causing widespread flooding.
Of the 3 options to build different lengths of flood wall and embankment, this option would require the least
funding contributions compared to options 2 and 3.
The blue areas of flooding on this map indicate the flood risk from the River Thames now without the
embankment and flood walls. If we develop one of the options we will hope to reduce flooding from the River
Thames to all areas behind the flood walls and embankments.
We cannot remove flood risk entirely only reduce it.
Option 1 – Nire Road to Christchurch playing fields
Options being considered to reduce flooding
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
This is a slightly longer option than option 1. The first length of flood walls and embankments would be exactly
the same as option 1 beginning at Ruskin Road near the Berry Brook until it reaches Christchurch playing fields,
where it would then extend along the north edge of the playing fields.
This option would require more funding contributions than option 1 as it is slightly longer, but would cost less
than option 3.
The blue areas of flooding on this map indicate the flood risk from the River Thames now without the
embankment and flood walls. If we develop one of the options we will hope to reduce flooding from the River
Thames to all areas behind the flood walls and embankments.
We cannot remove flood risk entirely only reduce it.
Option 2 – Nire Road to Promenade Road
Options being considered to reduce flooding
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
This is the same as option 2 with the addition of further embankment and walls to the south of the River Thames.
The flood embankment and walls to the south of the River Thames could begin near Caversham Bridge and end
at Reading Bridge. This option would reduce flooding behind the flood embankments and walls to the north as
with options 1 and 2. In addition it would reduce flooding to properties south of the River Thames behind the
embankment and flood walls.
This option would require more funding contributions than options 1 and 2 as it is the longest option.
The blue areas of flooding on this map indicate the flood risk from the River Thames now without the
embankment and flood walls. If we develop one of the options we will hope to reduce flooding from the River
Thames to all areas behind the flood walls and embankments.
We cannot remove flood risk entirely only reduce it.
Option 3 – Nire Road to Prominade road including Waterman Place to
Reading Bridge.
Options being considered to reduce flooding
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
The final option is not to build a scheme, to continue as we are now with existing maintenance work to rivers and
streams and operation of weirs and locks in the area.
This work reduces flood risk from smaller, more regular floods, but more significant flooding cannot be reduced
by watercourse maintenance alone. The best scientific evidence suggests that severe weather events are likely
to be more frequent and more intense in future, increasing the risk of flooding across the United Kingdom.
Option 4 – Continue as we are now
What are the next steps?
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
What happens next
We will consider all of the following information and use it together to make a decision on which, if any
of the options we will take forward.
• Landowners wishes, as shared through results of this consultation, feedback from individual meetings and
feedback from the landowner drop-in held on the 26 June 2018.
• Public views, as shown by the results of this consultation and feedback gathered at our public drop-ins.
• Planning application requirements and recommendations.
• Technical restrictions. When we develop the detail of the design we may discover physical restrictions
that have not shown up during our initial investigations, these could include space available for construction,
size of foundations required, archaeological findings, endangered species, to name a few. Any such findings
could mean that we have to change the detail of the option or even consider a different, previously
discounted option.
• Cost of the proposal and funding available. The project would be partly funded by central government, but
there is still a need to find more funding, for example from organisations and businesses that will benefit.
• The time it will take to design, build and construct
• Maintenance. We would need to agree who would be responsible for maintaining any new structures
before putting a new structure in place.
• Wildlife and landscape. If we develop an option then wildlife and landscape will be taken into
consideration, and where possible we will look to improve landscape and habitat. We will always mitigate for
any habitat and species that has been unavoidably impacted as a result of work we do to reduce flooding.
Partnership funding
If we decide to develop one of the options it would require partnership funding. This means that while some of
the funding for the scheme can be raised through government grants, it is likely it would not be enough to cover
the whole cost of a scheme. We would need to find further funding from local beneficiaries such as large
businesses and organisations to help us cover the full cost of designing, building and maintaining a scheme.
Nearby communities
We will not develop any option that would increase flood risk to properties outside the area we are working in.
We work to reduce flooding, not to transfer it from one community to another. If at any stage in our work we find that our
proposed work could result in increasing flood risk to a community near to or downstream of the scheme, then we
would look for ways to change the design to remove this risk. If we cannot find a solution to reduce flooding without
increasing risk to other communities then we will not continue with that option and will have to consider different
options. It may be that none of the options we are now sharing become possible and we have to look at alternative
solutions.
Steps we will follow if we decide to develop one of the options
How can we reduce flooding
in north Reading and Lower
Caversham?
To contact the project team, or to request to be added to the mailing list email
reading&[email protected]
To respond to our online consultation go tohttps://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/thames/reading-and-caversham-flood-reduction-options
Complete
surveys and
Investigations
Gain full
business
case
approval
Continue to
develop
options
Public
drop-in
Construction
begins subject
to approvals
and fundingSubmit
planning
application