Flood Alleviation Broadway

Updated May 2009

What have we done since 2007?

• we assessed all affected areas to see what needs to be done to reduce flood risk; • we removed blockages downstream of the B4632 road bridge to further improve river flows; • we continue to remove blockages on an ongoing basis as each period of high water brings more debris downstream; • we have completed river modelling to obtain a more accurate picture of flood risk in the area; • we have completed pre-feasibility surveys for , Broadway and to see if there is anything that can be done to help reduce flood risk.

• we have carried out tree and bush work and a small amount of bank excavation at Childswickham. Large trees upstream of the village have been pollarded; • flooding from the Brook affects over 200 homes in Broadway, Wickhamford and Childswickham; • the flood risk to all communities on the Badsey Brook was considered in a strategic way because of the impact flood defence options could have on downstream communities. For example, raised flood defences to protect an upstream community would raise water levels, increasing the risk downstream, whilst flood storage would benefit all communities downstream. Therefore the preferred option was developed following further modelling along with public consultation and submitted for funding to the Regional flood defence committee alongside public consultation. The schemes were successful in securing funding for delivery in 2009/10.

• the Badsey Brook hydrological model was improved and updated along its entire length to as part of the process in order to obtain a better understanding of the flooding and what can be done to alleviate against it through Broadway, Childswickham, Wickhamford. The model is also being extended downstream to the confluence with the Avon to get a catchment wide representation of the issues along its course.

The summer 2007 floods in Broadway

In North Littleton, 31 properties flooded either from brook or from surface water run-off in Easter 1998. In 2006, we replaced four bridges to protect the village from flooding from the Littleton Brook. Bridges were replaced on Pebworth Road, on a footpath through the centre of North Littleton, on the minor road in the north of the village and the farm access bridge immediately to the south of North Littleton. Surface water issues were being investigated by Wychavon District Council.

At Wickhamford, 12 residential properties and farm buildings (two farms) were reported to have flooded in the Easter 1998 flood, which has been estimated to be an event with a greater than 1% chance of happening in any one year. In an event with a 1% chance of happening in any one year, approximately 6-8 properties would be at risk.

Partners work since the floods

Wychavon District Council: Wychavon District Council, Environment Agency, County Highways and Severn Trent Water have come together to tackle the numerous flooding issues facing the residents of Wychavon: • Partners have attended more than 20 public meetings throughout the district to hear about the nature and extent of the flooding. These meetings have been in addition to the well attended EA drop in sessions held shortly after the floods; • Wychavon has focused on working with riverside owners to get ditches cleared. We have inspected 30km of watercourses and ditches and, by working with riverside owners, over 50% have now been cleared; • we are reviewing the disposal of surface water and developing special guidelines for developers of projects of all sizes, from major housing developments to driveways; • Severn Trent Water Ltd have checked pipe capacity issues, infiltration of rain water into their system and pumping station resilience; • County Highways have been busy clearing road gulleys, repairing road drains and repairing flood damaged roads; • Wychavon have been developing flood action plans in conjunction with the other partners for those Parishes worst affected. The first few plans have already been presented to the Parish Councils; • Charlton was one of the first to benefit from the partnership approach. We have already started work to clear the Brook and riverside owners have been contacted and asked to do their bit. County Highways have emptied gulleys and identified those that need some work to improve their effectiveness. Wychavon’s land drainage staff have been looking at other potential problem ditches and have provided details of an earlier feasibility study to hold some of the water back up of Charlton; • Investigations and corrective works by all partners have also been undertaken in Wickhamford and Beckford.