Opening of the Thacka Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, Penrith, UK
More than 260 homes and 115 businesses in Penrith now benefit from improved flood protection.
On 5 August, the Environment Agency officially opened a new £5.6 million flood alleviation scheme which reduces flood risk from Thacka Beck - the watercourse which runs underneath Penrith’s streets.
Work on the scheme involved fixing and replacing over 675m of culverts underneath the town and the construction of a 76,000m³ flood storage basin upstream, equivalent to 30 Olympic sized swimming pools.
The environment around the flood storage basin has also been enhanced to provide a wetland wildlife haven which the local community can enjoy. It is for this special combination of flood protection, wildlife benefits and recreation that the scheme has been selected by the ALFA project as a demonstration site. To ensure its long term future, the local wildlife trust is now managing the site as a nature reserve.
The opening was marked by an afternoon of activities hosted by the Environment Agency. Local people were able to find out about the scheme and the benefits it brings to the town, as well as joining in some fun and educational activities at the new nature reserve.
Eden Rivers Trust were on site with their River Rover offering a chance to look at wetland wildlife under the microscope and Cumbria Wildlife Trust took people on a guided walk around the new nature reserve to explain how they plan to manage it.
Adam Walsh, Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager said: “One in six properties in England and Wales are at flood risk. The afternoon of activities at the new nature reserve was a great opportunity for the community to come along and find out more about the scheme, see if they are at risk of flooding and find out what they can do to prepare for flooding.”
The scheme is the result of close partnership work between the Environment Agency, Eden District Council, Cumbria County Council, Eden Rivers Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, local businesses and the wider community.
Pictures: Opening Event of the Thacka Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, Source: Eden Rivers Trust
More than 260 homes and 115 businesses in Penrith now benefit from improved flood protection.
On 5 August, the Environment Agency officially opened a new £5.6 million flood alleviation scheme which reduces flood risk from Thacka Beck - the watercourse which runs underneath Penrith’s streets.
Work on the scheme involved fixing and replacing over 675m of culverts underneath the town and the construction of a 76,000m³ flood storage basin upstream, equivalent to 30 Olympic sized swimming pools. The environment around the flood storage basin has also been enhanced to provide a wetland wildlife haven which the local community can enjoy. It is for this special combination of flood protection, wildlife benefits and recreation that the scheme has been selected by the ALFA project as a demonstration site. To ensure its long term future, the local wildlife trust is now managing the site as a nature reserve.
The opening was marked by an afternoon of activities hosted by the Environment Agency. Local people were able to find out about the scheme and the benefits it brings to the town, as well as joining in some fun and educational activities at the new nature reserve.
Eden Rivers Trust were on site with their River Rover offering a chance to look at wetland wildlife under the microscope and Cumbria Wildlife Trust took people on a guided walk around the new nature reserve to explain how they plan to manage it.Adam Walsh, Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager said: “One in six properties in England and Wales are at flood risk. The afternoon of activities at the new nature reserve was a great opportunity for the community to come along and find out more about the scheme, see if they are at risk of flooding and find out what they can do to prepare for flooding.”
The scheme is the result of close partnership work between the Environment Agency, Eden District Council, Cumbria County Council, Eden Rivers Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, local businesses and the wider community.
Pictures: Opening Event of the Thacka Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, Source: Eden Rivers Trust
