Update on the River Steeping Maintenance and dredging and flood prevention
This is an update for the community on all the activity being undertaken by partners to help reduce flood risk within the Steeping catchment. The first phase of dredging has unfortunately been impacted by Covid 19 - more details below. This community update can be seen online in full here www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/flood2019 and has been left in several community locations currently open in Wainfleet for you to take away. If you have any questions please contact LMDB, or the Environment Agency (EA), using the details at the end.
Dredging postponed The Government lockdown announcements to help combat Covid 19 has led to the delayed return by the dredging crews to the UK to complete the last section of the first dredging phase due to be completed mid January. Royal Smals, the company carrying out the dredging, is based in Holland and there are implications for international travel in and out of the country. Staff safety and wellbeing is paramount. The situation is being regularly reviewed as all parties are committed to the earliest possible completion of the Phase 1 works. More than 47,600 cubic metres of silt has been removed in total to date. The 2020 dredging campaign had been extended to include an additional section because more silt was found at this location than surveys indicated. This is not unusual in a complex silt removal operation like this.
River Steeping Flood Alert issued Many residents will have received three messages from the EA’s Flood Warning Service on 23 December, 14 and 28 January to say the River Steeping Flood Alert had been issued.
***Flood Alerts are the lowest level of warning that are issued when flooding could affect low-lying land, driveways, gardens or roads***
The Alerts were issued because heavy rainfall in the catchment meant levels in the Steeping River and its tributaries were rising. The next level of warning is a Flood Warning. These are issued when flooding could affect homes. Forecasts indicated that property flooding was not likely and therefore Flood Warnings were not expected to be issued. Residents are encouraged to check if their home is at risk of flooding. The map shows the flood risk area around Wainfleet.
After the flooding in June 2019, one of the Flood Warning Areas was extended to allow people home sooner, as they could be contacted to get immediate updates while the breach was being repaired. A home may not be at direct risk but could be impacted e.g. if water surrounds the town and roads cannot be used.
***Residents can easily opt out of receiving the Flood Alerts and just receive Flood Warnings relating to property instead.
Call the EA’s Floodline service on 0345 988 1188 or go online www.gov.uk/flood. Alternatively residents can send contact details to the local Flood Resilience Team frt.lincsandnorthants@environment-agency.gov.uk***
To find out when a Flood Alert has been removed, call Floodline or look online here https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings
Steeping River Community Update
Jan/Feb 2021
Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board: 01507 328095 Environment Agency: 03708 506 506 enquiries@lmdb.co.uk LNenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk @wmcidb Incident Hotline 24/7: 0800 80 70 60 Floodline: 0345 988 1188 @EnvAgencyMids
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