Roger Fell, Bescaby , Lowdham Road, Gunthorpe

From:- Roger Fell, ‘Bescaby’, Lowdham Road, Gunthorpe

Tel./Fax. 0115 966 5513

To:- Chris Holt / Estate Manager Stoke Bardolph Estate / Severn Trent t. 0115 961 6504 / f. 0115 940 0391 ref.: FLOODING : November 2000 : Gunthorpe Parish

I refer to my call to your office yesterday and conversation with Mr McDonald (Area Manager).

It is understood that there is to be an opportunity to meet some representatives of various local statutory undertakings and authorities during a Parish Meeting, Village Hall, David Lane, Gunthorpe on Wednesday 4th April at 7.30pm. This specific matter is to discuss the implications of actions taken at the time and the lessons learnt - and hopefully to evaluate what might be possible in terms of any capital works to minimise the effects of major flood levels.

For my own part I have taken the opportunity to contact all those who have property on the A6097 wether domestic or commercial. I have done so because a promised report by the Parish Council via a Flood Sub-Committee has not been forthcoming and the fact that the members have not ensured notice of the meeting was circulated to all the affected parties. The effect of such disasters are devastating and costly and must rank as the number one matter for concern locally,

In order to raise salient matters I am trying to assemble in a few days as much basic factual information as possible.

Stoke Bardolph Estate has the major land interest and I would appreciate an opportunity to establish the geographical boundary of that interest. At the time I took still and video images and have been able to capture aerial footage in order to plot the absolute spread of the water between the Cocker Beck and past the Doverbeck.

An initial impression is growing that there might well be a possibility of considering how it might be possible to provide an major well defined overflow channel for the flood water in order to reduce or cut out completely the surface flooding of much of the area. There is a relatively small drainage system which runs in an arc from behind Newbridge Garage at Gunthorpe, across your holding and back towards the River Trent. The maintenance of this is NAIDB and initial factual matters have been settled in correspondence with the Clerk, Mr S J Broadhead. There is a further question of the banking and maintenance of the Cocker Beck.

The visual evidence of the flood water was that it is significantly affected by the height of the A6097 which tranverses the flood flow direction at right-angles. Specifically it was noted that the section between the overhead pylon line to Marlock Cottages displayed a significant level of water to the west and minimal coverage east over the washland: there was a pronounced dam effect which has a consequence of pushing water northwards into Cottage Pasture Lane before it can breach the main road. It seems possible that over the years the Highway Authority has inadvertently added to the problem – particularly during successive resurfacing work.

Talking to a number of local residents has revealed their wish to explore every aspect of the position. There is frustration that no communication locally has taken place nor is it believed any visit or contact by any other district council or statutory body. There might therefore be a decision to set up a working party of those on the A6097 in order to move this matter forward at full speed. My own initial work would then move to that group.

In the meantime any help from yourself would be appreciated - and you might wish to attend the meeting . Although it is directly related to your own responsibility I think another issue which will arise will be that of the implications of the sludge disposal and the repetitive outflowing of raw sewerage from the main system. It would be useful if you could identify the responsible sections and contact names and numbers on this point: residents will tend to lump everything together as Severn Trent.

Roger Fell