Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme An Example of Partnership Funding & Community Engagement Ruth Bendell Infrastructure Manager - Northumberland County Council Chair of the TAG FCRM Committee
Overview Setting the Scene Engagement Partnership Approach Agreed Scheme Wider Community Engagement Community Agreement
Setting the Scene Northumberland Population 316,000 Area 5000 km 2 Predominantly rural SCOTLAND N NORTH SEA Morpeth Population 14,000 County Town of Northumberland Strategic importance Major historic flooding 1963, 2008, 2012 Morpeth
Catchment
Morpeth the River Wansbeck
Morpeth the River Wansbeck
Morpeth the River Wansbeck
1963 Flood 1963 floods Oldgate Bridge Elliot Footbridge
Sat 6 th September 2008 Low Stanners
Sat 6 th September 2008 Middle Greens
Sat 6 th September 2008 Town Centre
Sat 6 th September 2008 Bridge Street
Sat 6 th September 2008 Bridge Street
Sat 6 th September 2008 High Stanners
Flood Risk With Current Defences This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty s Stationery Office Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution. Licence No. 100026380 2009
Defences in Morpeth (town works) Debris screen New defences Upstream Storage Replace / raise existing defences
Timescales NCC joint funding agreed (late summer 2011) Project review (Nov/Dec 2011) Communications plan (2012) Detailed design (2012) Planning approval (2013) Construction (2013 2015)
High Stanners - visualisation Wide green area - allows for gently sloping embankment
High Stanners - visualisation Narrow green area - space restricted so flood wall will defend properties
Upstream dam - Mitford Estate This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty s Stationery Office Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution. Licence No. 100026380 2009
Mitford Estate - visualisation
Partnership Approach Partnership agreements legal Project Board - EA, NCC, NWL, consultants, contractors Project Team - Personalities - Positive approach to joint benefits - Multi-disciplinary capability Joint Branding Engagement
Engagement Deliver more for people and the environment Working with communities can help reach a consensus on how flood risk can best be managed Greater ownership of flood risk Engage early before decisions are made
Working Together through and with others Morpeth Flood Action Group Political buy in from MP and Councillors Local media
Joined up communications Joint communication & engagement plan Agreed messages Joint events Existing communication channels including council magazine Digital communications
Tailored engagement Whole town drop-in events Events for specific areas of the town Consultation with Flood Action Group One-to-one meetings with directly affected residents and landowners
Final Scheme Consistent standard of protection throughout Morpeth at 1 in 50 These defences contain the passforward flow from the dam.
How does the dam store flood water? River water levels will be measured using sensors located upstream of the inlet structure. These control the penstocks. The penstocks will open and allow the flood storage area to empty once the high flows through the town have reduced. The penstocks on the five larger culverts will close one by one to maintain a peak outflow (150m 3 /s).
Mitford Flood Storage Area Design Online storage area. Flows maintained through one 1.8x1.8m and five 3x3m precast culverts. Flows up to 150m 3 /s (c. 1:35 year event) pass through the dam unnattenuated. This pass forward flow equates to maximum flow that urban defences can protect against. Once pass forward flow exceeded, 3 of the 5 penstocks will close, 1 by 1. 2 remain open; these discharge the pass forward flow when the dam is full.
Mitford Flood Storage Area Hydrograph
Dam Function Design 1.8 x 1.8m culvert designed to maintain the movement of crayfish and eels Baffles reduce the velocities provide hiding places for crayfish. Matting to improve bed conditions. Fish blocks provided to reduce velocity. Low flow channel for fish passage.
Scheme launch event Removal of Collingwood oaks at High Stanners Replanting of Collingwood Oaks at Abbey Fields First School
Construction Phase
Town Works Flood walls both new and upgraded Flood bund and gates at High Stanners Local road raising Locking down of Storm water manhole covers
Community information Visitor centre & scheme HQ Detailed information available to public 150 visitors in first six weeks Twitter account Resident Public Liaison Officer
Completed Town Works
Completed Town Works
Dam Works
Dam Construction Structure constructed first RC construction with Stainless Steel Penstocks
Dam Construction
Working with schools
Wider Community Engagement Host Community Flood Groups and Engagement Officer through Northumbria RFCC
Northumberland Flood Improvement Delivery Group Morpeth Community Agreement
Community Agreement Live Test
Demonstrations
Demonstrations
Community Resilience Volunteers
Thank you for listening Ruth Bendell, Infrastructure Manager Northumberland County Council ruth.bendell@northumberland.gov.uk