Scientists confident over Belford flood defences
SCIENTISTS are increasingly confident their unique approach to Belford's flooding problems has succeeded.
A series of ponds and wetlands were created in fields around the Belford Burn last year to help control the flow of water off the land.
The 600,000 scheme funded by the Regional Flood Defence Committee is managed by the Environment Agency, working in partnership with Newcastle University.
Phil Welton, Environment Agency project manager, said: "At the end of the day there is always going to be a risk because there is a river there and that is important to remember.
"However, we are pleasantly surprised at how well it has worked considering we have only done 10 per cent of the work so far."
Five ponds have been created, holding run-off water which is then slowly released through gaps in the wood, helping to slow down the flow which in turn prevents flooding downstream.
"We think the solution is absolute genius," said Mr Welton. "Traditional flood defences are quite unsustainable with climate change but here you can put in more ponds if river flows increase."
They passed their first major test in September when only one property was flooded in the torrential rain which devastated large parts of Northumberland.
Mark Wilkinson of Newcastle University said: "We received the same rainfall here as in Morpeth but did not have the same flooding and that was down to the new ponds."
Belford has flooded five times in the past three years, with ten properties affected on a regular basis and 28 at risk of a 'one in 100-year' event.
It is planned to create another dozen or so ponds in the catchment, which is not as many as had initially been anticipated because it has worked so well.
Work is also taking place in the Blagdon Dean - the fastest part of the catchment - which is not just storing water but slowing it down through the use of natural timber dams.
In the village itself, a new wall will be built on West Street next to the property flooded in September, while there are plans to realign or widen the river channel to give it more capacity.
The Environment Agency hope work can be carried out to realign water flowing across fields near Belford First School. Speed bumps which could divert water across the road have been mooted, although highways officers have warned this may not be possible because of the impact on buses.
Northumbrian Water and Northumberland County Council will also continue the work they have been doing on the drains and sewers in and around the village.
Coun Geoff O'Connell said: "I find this absolutely thrilling. First of all this community made a fuss and someone listened.
"We did not qualify for the big pot of Environment Agency funding but we have been fortunate enough to be selected as the location for this hugely successful pilot project."
The principles established by the project are already being put to good use at West Fenton in the Till Valley where two ponds with willow have been constructed.
Ellingham parish councillor Neil Mundy enthused about the Belford project and hoped similar flood prevention methods could be used in his home village.
He said: "I am massively impressed by the project and think it has great potential for Ellingham which has also had a number of flooding problems in the recent past.
"We can look at the experience Belford has gone through to see if those solutions can be translated into our problems. If they can, that would be great."
However, Chris Budzynski, borough environmental maintenance manager, revealed there are problems which need to be overcome if Ellingham is to benefit.
"We are struggling to get some of the main bodies interested because the stream running through Ellingham is not classed as a main river," he explained.
Belford Burn overcame a similar problem before the Environment Agency took responsibility for it after coming under pressure from local residents, councils and the Government.
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Thursday 24 May 2012
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