Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report December 2009 managing flood risk We are the Environment Agency. It’s our job to look after your environment and make it a better place – for you, and for future generations. Your environment is the air you breathe, the water you drink and the ground you walk on. Working with business, Government and society as a whole, we are making your environment cleaner and healthier. The Environment Agency. Out there, making your environment a better place.

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All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with prior permission of the Environment Agency. December 2009 Introduction

I am pleased to introduce our summary of the River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP). This CFMP gives an overview of the flood risk in the River Wyre catchment and sets out our preferred plan for sustainable flood risk management over the next 50 to 100 years.

The River Wyre CFMP is one of 77 CFMPs for Approximately 7,600 residential and commercial and Wales. Through the CFMPs, we have assessed properties are at a 1% annual risk of fluvial flooding inland flood risk across all of England and Wales for (from rivers) within the catchment; 90% of which are the first time. The CFMP considers all types of inland concentrated in the towns of , , flooding, from rivers, groundwater, surface water Poulton-le Fylde and Thornton. In the future, it is and tidal flooding, but not flooding directly from the estimated that over 9000 properties will be at risk from sea (coastal flooding), which is covered by Shoreline a 1% fluvial event after taking into account climate Management Plans (SMPs). Our coverage of surface change. and groundwater is however limited due to a lack of We cannot reduce flood risk on our own, we will available information. therefore work closely with all our partners to improve The role of CFMPs is to establish flood risk management the co-ordination of flood risk activities and agree policies which will deliver sustainable flood risk the most effective way to management flood risk in management for the long term. This is essential if we the future. To develop this plan and ensure social, are to make the right investment decisions for the economic and environmental issues were taken future and to help prepare ourselves effectively for into account we worked with, and consulted many the impact of climate change. We will use CFMPs to organisations. These include local authorities, United help us target our limited resources where the risks Utilities, DEFRA, Natural England, and are greatest. Wildlife Trust.

This CFMP identifies flood risk management policies to This is a summary of the main CFMP document, if you assist all key decision makers in the catchment. It was need to see the full document an electronic version produced through a wide consultation and appraisal can be obtained by emailing enquiries@environment- process, however it is only the first step towards an agency.gov.uk or alternatively paper copies can be integrated approach to Flood Risk Management. As we viewed at any of our offices in North West Region. all work together to achieve our objectives, we must monitor and listen to each others progress, discuss what has been achieved and consider where we may need to review parts of the CFMP.

The Wyre is steep and rural in its upper catchment with rapid runoff. The Lower Wyre is at a low elevation, Tony Dean urbanised and sometimes at or below sea level. Regional Director

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 1 Contents

The purpose of a CFMP in managing flood risk 3

Catchment overview 4

Current and future flood risk 6

Future direction for flood risk management 10

Sub-areas 1 Upper Wyre 12 2 Middle Wyre and Flood Basins 14 3 16 4 Lower Wyre 17 5 Wyre Urban 18 6 Wyre Rural 19

Map of CFMP policies 20

2 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan The purpose of a CFMP in managing flood risk

CFMPs help us to understand the • Internal Drainage Board, water CFMPs aim to promote more scale and extent of flooding now companies and other utilities to sustainable approaches to managing and in the future, and set policies help plan their activities in the flood risk. The policies identified in for managing flood risk within the wider context of the catchment. the CFMP will be delivered through a catchment. CFMPs should be used combination of different approaches. • Transportation planners. to inform planning and decision Together with our partners, we making by key stakeholders such as: • Landowners, farmers and will implement these approaches land managers who manage through a range of delivery plans, • The Environment Agency, who will and operate land for projects and actions. use the plan to guide decisions agriculture, conservation on investment in further plans, The relationship between the CFMP, and amenity purposes. projects or actions. delivery plans, strategies, projects • The public and businesses to and actions is shown in figure 1. • Regional planning bodies and enhance their understanding local authorities who can use of flood risk and how it will the plan to inform spatial be managed. planning activities and emergency planning.

Figure 1 The relationship between CFMPs, delivery plans, projects and actions

Policy planning • CFMPs and Shoreline Management Plans. • Action plans define requirement for delivery plans, projects and actions.

Policy delivery plans (see note) Projects and actions • Influence spatial planning to reduce risk • Make sure our spending delivers the best and restore floodplains. possible outcomes. • Prepare for and manage floods • Focus on risk based targets, for example (including local Flood Warning plans). numbers of households at risk. • Managing assets. • Water level management plans. • Land management and habitat creation. Note: Some plans may not be led by us – we may • Surface water management plans. identify the need and encourage their development.

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 3 Catchment overview

It is useful to draw out some reaching the estuary. In addition, the Estuary and Bay general characteristics that are the and flood which has international, European most important in our management alleviation basins, constructed and national environmental of flood risk. The River Wyre in the 1980s, protect properties designations. The CFMP takes catchment area extends from the in Garstang, Catterall and St. account of opportunities and high moorland of the Forest of Michaels-on-the-Wyre. constraints for future flood risk Bowland fells in the upper, eastern management from improved Within the Wyre catchment, part of the catchment to the lower environmental management. urban development accounts lying central area and flat for approximately 10% of land of peninsular found use. The greatest concentration adjacent to the Wyre estuary. The of properties (more than 90%) is upper tributaries of the Wyre are in the west of the Wyre estuary, steep, resulting in a rapid runoff extending from the northern part response following rainfall. The of the coastal resort of watercourses within the Lower Wyre almost continuously through to the catchment are at a low elevation port of Fleetwood, and includes the and sometimes at or below sea towns of Poulton-le-Fylde, Thornton, level. Rainfall over these tributaries and Cleveleys. Outside of this main often has difficulty in draining away, centre of urbanisation, there is the leading to ponding of surface water, market town of Garstang, and the which is exacerbated by the urban villages of Catterall, St Michaels nature of these catchments. and in the middle The majority of the middle of the catchment. However, as the and lower reaches of the Wyre majority of the catchment is rural, it catchment have been managed for is predominantly dotted with small mixed agricultural uses, and as a villages, hamlets, and isolated result a large network of modified farm dwellings. There are currently watercourses and embanked approximately 7,600 properties rivers has been created to support across the catchment at risk from agricultural production. In the past, river flooding. Our approach to rivers have also been modified at management in these high risk urban locations to convey water locations is focussed around more efficiently, and this has improvements in existing flood risk been done through artificial and management, development control, straightened river channels. Flood flood warning and flood resilience. defences are typically raised earth The Wyre CFMP area has a embankments protecting the main particularly high environmental and urban areas and agricultural land at landscape value, reflected in its two risk of flooding. Pumping stations main designations: Bowland Fells within the lower reaches of the Wyre Special Protection Area and Area of also protect properties at risk when Outstanding Natural Beauty, and high levels prevent river flows

4 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan Map 1 Main features

Garstang Flood Basin in operation

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 5 Current and future flood risk

Overview of the current flood risk

Flood risk has two components: help alleviate future flooding. there are relatively few records of the chance (probability) of a Since their construction, there properties flooding. particular flood and the impact (or have been several flood events, • Sewer flooding has been consequence) that the flood would most notably in 1995 and recorded in the urban areas have if it happened. The probability 2000. However, the basins stretching from Blackpool of a flood relates to the likelihood of prevented major flooding to northwards to Fleetwood, and a flood of that size occurring within property. Despite this, flooding in the middle of the catchment a one year period, it is expressed to a number of rural properties, between St Michaels and as a percentage. For example, roads and agricultural land have Garstang. a 1% flood has a 1% chance or occurred. probability of occurring in any one • Tidal flood risk remains a key year, and a 0.5% flood has a 0.5% issue for the downstream chance or probability of occurring in reaches of the River Wyre and any one year. The flood risks quoted the tributaries directly entering in this report are those that take the Wyre Estuary in the lower account of flood defences already in catchment. Tidal flooding place. typically occurs along the The Wyre catchment has a long coastline and in the Wyre Estuary history of flooding but recently when high , combine with there have been two major events. a storm surge, wind and wave In November 1977, a severe storm action to raise the sea level over coincided with a spring tide, the top of the coastal defences. resulting in flooding in Thornton- Tidal flooding and coastal Cleveleys and Knott End-on-sea. In processes will be assessed in 1980 a breach to one of the flood the next stage of the Shoreline embankments resulted in flooding Management Plan (SMP2) in the village of St Michaels, costing process, which is expected to be millions of pounds. completed in summer 2010.

The main sources of flooding in the • Groundwater flooding is not Wyre catchment are as follows: thought to be a significant issue in this catchment, due to its • River flooding from the River geology. However, there is a Wyre has historically been an risk from localised groundwater issue of concern, especially ponding in the Knott-End-on-Sea within the areas of Garstang, area due to low lying land and St. Michaels-on-Wyre and the presence of shallow and Great Eccleston. Following aquifers. severe flooding in 1980, the flood basins at Garstang and • Surface water flooding does Catterall were constructed to occur in the Wyre catchment, but

6 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan Where is the risk? Table 1. Locations of Towns and Villages with 25 or more properties at risk in a 1% annual probability river flood The main sources of risk are river and tidal flooding, with a smaller Number of properties at risk Locations risk from sewer and surface water. Using a broad-scale model and Over 500 In the Wyre Borough at Cleveleys, flood maps where no models exist Thornton we estimate 7,600 residential and commercial properties in the 151 to 500 In the Wyre Borough at St. catchment have a 1% chance of Michaels–on-the-Wyre, , flooding in any one year from rivers. Fleetwood, Poulton-le-Fylde

There is little fluvial flood risk 51 to 150 In the Wyre Borough at Great associated with a 10% probability Eccleston, Garstang event. The majority of the catchment has existing defences that protect property and agricultural land to a Table 2. Critical infrastructure at risk: standard of protection between 2% Four care homes, five power and gas stations, one sewage treatment and 3%. works , four emergency response centres, three telephone exchanges, Tidal flood risk remains a key issue one waste management site, eight schools for the downstream reaches of the River Wyre and the tributaries directly entering the Wyre estuary in the lower catchment. This is not assessed as part of the CFMP.

The distribution of flood risk to properties across the catchment is illustrated on the map overleaf.

There is one Scheduled Ancient Monument (Claughton Hlaew) at risk of fluvial flooding, but there are no other designated sites at risk from a 1% event.

We recognise the potential risk from surface water and sewer flooding; following on from the CFMP further study will be undertaken to quantify this potential risk.

Wyre Flood Basins

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 7 Map 2 Risk to property across catchment for the 1% annual probability fluvial event

How we currently manage the risk in the catchment

More than 90% of the properties at built or improved in the 1980s. Activities that reduce the probability risk are concentrated in the towns The total length of flood defences of flooding include: of Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Poulton- in the CFMP area is approximately • identifying and promoting new le-Fylde and Thornton. These towns 422km and the average design flood defence schemes where are affected by tidally influenced standard of protection is able appropriate; fluvial flooding and have benefited, to cope with a 2.5% annual together with other towns, from probability event. • maintaining and improving engineering schemes put in place existing flood defences, structures • Pumping stations constructed at over the last 30 years or more. These and water courses; Yoad Pool and Raikes Brook. include: • enforcement where riparian In addition to these engineering • Flood alleviation basins were owners and others carry out schemes, other flood risk constructed at Garstang and work detrimental to flood risk, or management activities are carried Catterall in the 1980s and benefit neglect their responsibilities; out in the catchment. These include Garstang, St. Michael's-on-Wyre activities that help to reduce the and other downstream areas. • working with local authorities to probability of flooding, and those influence the location, layout and • Raised defences along the River that address the consequences of design of new and redeveloped Wyre and major tributaries were flooding.

8 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan The impact of climate change and future flood risk

property while ensuring that In the future flooding will be • a total sea level rise of 843 mm by only appropriate development is influenced by climate change, the year 2100. This will increase allowed on the floodplain through changes in land use (for example the probability of tidal flooding the application of Planning Policy urban development) and rural and increase the length of time Statement 25 (PPS25). land management. In the River watercourses will be tide locked. Wyre catchment, sensitivity testing Activities that reduce the We estimate that by 2100, flooding revealed that climate change has consequences of flooding include: will become more frequent. By using the greatest impact on flood risk, river models developed as part of followed by land management • flood risk mapping, this helps the CFMP, a 1% annual probability to understand where flooding is change, and then urbanisation. In event will put approximately 9,000 likely to occur; this catchment land management properties at risk of fluvial flooding. change has the effect of reducing This is a 19% increase on the • operation of floodline and warning the time to peak of the main rivers. current number of properties at risk services to over 29,000 properties Whilst we do not know exactly what across the catchment. Flood depths (mostly for tidal flooding); will happen in the future the key are expected to increase by 0.3m in trends are: • providing flood incident Garstang and St. Michaels on the Wyre and by 0.8m in Thornton and management; • more frequent and intense Cleveleys. storms causing more widespread • promoting awareness of flooding from drainage systems flooding so that organisations, The graph below shows the and some rivers; communities and individuals are difference between current and future flood risks from a 1% event at aware of the risk and are prepared • wetter winters increasing the key locations across the catchment. in case they need to take action in likelihood of large-scale flooding. Following on from the CFMP, time of flood; The following future scenarios for organisations need to work together • promoting resilience and climate change were used in the to investigate flood risk from other resistance measures for those River Wyre CFMP: sources (e.g. surface water and properties already in the sewer flooding) in more detail. • 20% increase in peak flow in all floodplain. watercourses. This will increase In general, it is unlikely that the In addition to our measures and the probability of large-scale impact of flooding on environmental activities, flood risk management flood events; sites will change significantly in the activities are also undertaken by future. local authorities, such as Wyre Figure 2 Current and future (2100) flood risk to property from a 1% annual Borough Council. They maintain probability river flood, taking into account current flood defences. several ordinary watercourses as well as sections of coastal defence 6000 and a number of pumping stations within Thornton-Cleveleys. 5000

4000

3000

2000

1000 Number of Properties at Flood Risk at Properties Number of

0 Garstang Bilsborrow St Michaels Great Fleetwood Cleveleys Poulton Thornton Eccleston Current Future

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 9 Future direction for flood risk management

Approaches in each sub-area

We have divided the Wyre building and raising defences. This This document does set out our CFMP area into six distinct sub is why we have to look at the whole policies for managing flood risk, areas based on their physical catchment and how we direct effort recognising the constraints that characteristics, sources of flooding and resources to ensure sustainable do exist. Our future direction for and levels of risk. These sub solutions. We have assessed managing flood risk is expressed areas will allow us and the key what will be the most sustainable by applying one of our six standard stakeholders to promote flood approach to managing flood risk in policy options to that sub area. To risk management approaches, each sub area. This is presented in select the most appropriate policy, policies and actions that are most the following sections that outline; the plan has considered how social, appropriate in that area to deliver economic and environmental the various Government and • The key issues in that area. objectives are affected by flood risk regional strategies, in particular the • The vision and preferred policy. management activities under each Making Space for Water strategy. policy option. The six policy options When facing increasing risk, it • The proposed actions to are explained on page 11. is often not sustainable to keep implement the policy.

Map 3 Sub-areas

10 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan Table 3 Policy options ➜ Policy 1 Areas of little or no flood risk where we will continue to monitor and advise This policy will tend to be applied in those areas where there are very few properties at risk of flooding. It reflects a commitment to work with the natural flood processes as far as possible.

➜ Policy 2 Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we can generally reduce existing flood risk management actions This policy will tend to be applied where the overall level of risk to people and property is low to moderate. It may no longer be value for money to focus on continuing current levels of maintenance of existing defences if we can use resources to reduce risk where there are more people at higher risk. We would therefore review the flood risk management actions being taken so that they are proportionate to the level of risk.

➜ Policy 3 Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we are generally managing existing flood risk effectively This policy will tend to be applied where the risks are currently appropriately managed and where the risk of flooding is not expected to increase significantly in the future. However, we keep our approach under review, looking for improvements and responding to new challenges or information as they emerge. We may review our approach to managing flood defences and other flood risk management actions, to ensure that we are managing efficiently and taking the best approach to managing flood risk in the longer term.

➜ Policy 4 Areas of low, moderate or high flood risk where we are already managing the flood risk effectively but where we may need to take further actions to keep pace with climate change This policy will tend to be applied where the risks are currently deemed to be appropriately-managed, but where the risk of flooding is expected to significantly rise in the future. In this case we would need to do more in the future to contain what would otherwise be increasing risk. Taking further action to reduce risk will require further appraisal to assess whether there are socially and environmentally sustainable, technically viable and economically justified options.

➜ Policy 5 Areas of moderate to high flood risk where we can generally take further action to reduce flood risk This policy will tend to be applied to those areas where the case for further action to reduce flood risk is most compelling, for example where there are many people at high risk, or where changes in the environment have already increased risk. Taking further action to reduce risk will require additional appraisal to assess whether there are socially and environmentally sustainable, technically viable and economically justified options.

➜ Policy 6 Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we will take action with others to store water or manage run-off in locations that provide overall flood risk reduction or environmental benefits This policy will tend to be applied where there may be opportunities in some locations to reduce flood risk locally or more widely in a catchment by storing water or managing run-off. The policy has been applied to an area (where the potential to apply the policy exists), but would only be implemented in specific locations within the area, after more detailed appraisal and consultation.

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 11 Sub-area 1

Upper Wyre

Our key partners are: The issues in this Flood risk is low in the Upper Wyre, sub-area and remains so over the next 100 Wyre Borough Council years given our climate change projections. Due to the rural nature Lancaster City Council This sub area is predominantly rural, although there are a of the catchment, there are no Preston City Council number of small villages such as development pressures within the and . sub area. However, by implementing Natural England The sub area covers the upper our preferred policy, we are hoping Landowners / reservoir undertakers reaches and tributaries of the rivers to realise opportunities which exist Wyre and Brock, and encompasses within the Upper Wyre to restore Lancashire County Council part of the Area natural processes, and to provide attenuation in the upper catchment, United Utilities of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Bowland Fells Special which will bring benefits to Protected Area (SPA) and Site of downstream sub areas and create Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), environmental benefits within the in addition to Tarnbrook Meadows sub area itself. SSSI, and Rough Hey Wood SSSI. The topography and the steep gradients of the watercourses result The key messages in fast runoff and ‘flashy’ catchment • Restoration of the moorland characteristics. Abbeystead habitat by grip blocking, to better reservoir is within this sub area attenuate rainfall and run-off. and could potentially be used for managing flood risk in the future. • Investigation into the use of There are no known properties or Abbeystead Reservoir to provide critical infrastructure at risk in this upstream flood storage in the sub area. catchment.

• Changes in land and soil The vision and management practices to reduce erosion rates and increase water preferred policy retention locally. Policy option 6: Areas of low to • To effectively achieve the aims moderate flood risk where we of the preferred policy, effective will take action with others to communication between key store water or manage run-off in stakeholders such as DEFRA, locations that provide overall flood Natural England, NFU and risk reduction or environmental landowners must exist. benefits.

12 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan Proposed actions to implement the preferred policy

The essential actions to achieve our policy aim are listed below:

• Investigate further flood storage opportunities, setting back of existing embankments, and land management changes in the sub area.

• Undertake a pre-feasibility study for Abbeystead Reservoir to assess the current and potential capacity for flood storage, and how this can potentially attenuate flood flows from the outfall to the Wyre downstream of the reservoir.

• To identify suitable sites, and promote the use of grip blocking through consultation with United Utilities, Natural England, RSPB, and landowners, to reduce erosion and flashiness in the upper catchment.

Abbeystead Reservoir

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 13 Sub-area 2

Middle Wyre

Our key partners are: The issues in this Our preferred policy seeks to ensure sub-area that flood risk is sustained at the Wyre Borough Council current level, which will require actions from the Environment Lancaster City Council This sub area is semi rural and covers the middle reaches of the Agency and key stakeholders Natural England River Wyre and Brock. The main to mitigate primarily for the risk urban areas are Garstang, St. associated with climate change. Landowners Michaels and Catterall. A typical To achieve the aims of the Lancashire County Council characteristic of this sub area is preferred policy in the longer term, the significant length of narrow, consideration must be given to the United Utilities but embanked, channel which, creation of further flood storage together with the Garstang and areas, and the possible setting back Catterall flood basins, forms part of of existing flood embankments to the Wyre Flood Alleviation Scheme increase channel capacity. constructed in the 1980s. A large amount of sediment and gravel is transported by the watercourses The key messages in this sub area and erosion has • The continued effective timely been known to damage raised operation and optimum use of defences in a number of locations. Garstang and Catterall flood Approximately 180 properties storage basins. are at risk in the 1% annual probability event (APE). This rises • To promote the most effective to approximately 250 properties by use of maintenance expenditure 2100, with approximately 120 of through asset system and major those properties at risk of flooding asset management plans. from deep and fast flowing water. There are three infrastructure • To identify and investigate and community assets at risk further flood storage and land and no statutory environmentally management opportunities to designated sites at risk from benefit flood risk in the medium flooding in this sub area. to long term. • Effective management of proposed new development through PPS25 The vision and and the promotion of sustainable preferred policy drainage systems (SUDS).

Policy option 4: Areas of low, moderate or high flood risk where we are already managing the flood risk effectively but where we may need to take further actions to keep pace with climate change.

14 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan Proposed actions to implement the preferred policy

The essential actions to achieve our policy aim are listed below:

• Continue to maintain existing defences and major assets to their current standard, and improve assets where they fail to meet current targets. Expenditure should be risk based through the completion of System Asset Management Plans (SAMPs). (SAMPS - a forward looking plan for the repair and maintenance of flood defence structures).

• Investigate further flood storage opportunities, setting back of existing embankments, and land management changes in the sub area to ensure no increase in flood risk in the medium to long term.

• Encourage and assist the Regional Assembly and local planning authorities to produce Regional and Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRAs) to inform future development and minimise flood risk from all sources.

Garstang Flood Basin

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 15 Sub-area 3

Woodplumpton

Our key partners are: The vision and Proposed actions to

Wyre Borough Council preferred policy implement the preferred policy Preston City Council Policy option 3: Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we are The essential actions to achieve our Natural England generally managing existing flood policy aim are listed below: risk effectively. Landowners • Continue to maintain existing The current flood risk management Developers defences and major assets to measures are of clear benefit to the their current standard, and United Utilities people and properties in Bilsborrow improve assets to an appropriate and Myerscough. Flood risk is standard where they fail to meet expected to rise by 2100 in these target conditions. Expenditure areas but not of a significant nature. should be risk-based through the The issues in this Our vision is to continue to manage completion of SAMPs. sub-area the residual risks by making sure that our flood risk management • Investigate further flood storage This sub area is situated in the expenditure is risk based. We may opportunities, setting back of south of the catchment, and need to look at alternative ways of existing embankments, and land is formed principally by the managing flood risk in the sub area, management changes in the sub Woodplumpton Brook, Barton such as land management change area to sustain current flood risk Brook, and lower Brock catchments. and flood warning. Appropriate in the medium to long term. It is predominantly rural in nature planning is also necessary so that • Encourage and assist the with the villages of Woodplumpton future development does not cause Regional Assembly and Local and Bilsborrow. Flood risk any additional flood risk issues. management consists primarily Planning Authorities to produce of maintenance of the channel Regional and SFRAs to inform and the raised embankments of The key messages future development and the lower Brock, New Draught, minimise flood risk from all Woodplumpton Brook, and • Continue with existing sources. Barton Brook. Approximately 250 maintenance regime in the short properties are at risk in the 1% APE. term. This rises to approximately 260 • Seek to develop and improve the properties by 2100. Infrastructures flood warning service over time. and community assets at risk include part of the at • Investigate alternative actions to Barton and Bilsborrow, and a police sustain the current level of flood station, school, and health centre in risk. Bilsborrow. There are no statutory environmentally designated sites at risk from flooding in this sub area.

Woodplumpton Brook

16 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan Sub-area 4

Lower Wyre

Our key partners are: The vision and Proposed actions to

Wyre Borough Council preferred policy implement the preferred policy Fylde Borough Council Policy option 6: Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we will The essential actions to achieve our Natural England take action with others to store policy aim are listed below: water or manage run-off in locations Landowners that provide overall flood risk • Continue to maintain existing Lancashire County Council reduction or environmental benefits. defences and major assets to their current standard, and In this sub area, flooding occurs United Utilities improve assets to an appropriate from both fluvial and tidal sources standard where they fail to meet and, like other areas in the target conditions. Expenditure catchment, the Wyre is confined should be risk based through the The issues in this to a narrow, embanked channel, completion of SAMPs. resulting in the loss of natural sub-area floodplain. Our modelling suggests • Investigate further flood storage This sub area is formed by the lower that flood risk increases significantly opportunities, setting back of reaches of the Wyre and its tributaries over time in this sub area. So that existing embankments, and land and is predominantly rural in nature, the risk is managed to an acceptable management changes in the sub with St Michaels, Great Eccleston, level, and to meet the objectives area to sustain current flood risk Little Eccleston, Elswick, and Inskip of the CFMP, our preferred policy in the medium to long term. forming the larger villages. Raised is to take action to store water or • Undertake a study to improve embankments and Raikes Brook manage run-off in locations that understanding of interaction Pumping Station are the major assets provide overall flood risk reduction between river flow and tide, and within the sub area. , or environmental benefits, locally or the impact on flood risk within at Little Eccleston, marks the normal elsewhere in the catchment. the sub area. This affects tidal limit of the Wyre. An estimated communities mainly in St 220 properties are at risk in the 1% Michaels, Great Eccleston and APE, mainly in the St Michaels and The key messages Ratten Row. Great Eccleston areas. This rises to approximately 330 properties by • Continue with existing 2100. Around 15 properties have maintenance regime in the short been affected by sewer related term. flooding. Four km of the A586 • Opportunities for flood storage between St Michaels and Great should be identified within this Eccleston is at risk of flooding, and a sub area. school in St Michaels. The Wyre estuary as far as Windy Harbour is a • Flood risk to property in areas designated site as part of the wider such as St Michaels and Great SPA, SAC, RAMSAR Eccleston should continue to be and SSSI. managed at the same level. • Reduce sewer flooding issues that cause community disruption. River Wyre at St. Michaels-on-the-Wyre

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 17 Sub-area 5

Wyre Urban

Our key partners are: The Wyre estuary is part of the • Further development of our Morecambe Bay SAC, SSSI, SPA & strategy to reduce flood risk. Wyre Borough Council Ramsar site, and Marton Mere SSSI. Development is a key issue, and the • Ensure that future development Fylde Borough Council ICI Hillhouse Thornton site adjacent is sustainable. Blackpool Borough Council to the estuary has been earmarked for development in the near future. Lancashire County Council Proposed actions to

United Utilities implement the preferred The vision and policy preferred policy The essential actions to achieve our The issues in this Policy option 5: Areas of moderate policy aim are listed below: to high flood risk where we can sub-area • Continue to maintain existing generally take further action to defences and major assets to This sub area is predominantly reduce flood risk. their current standard, and urban in nature, and includes Flood risk is currently unacceptable improve assets to an appropriate Fleetwood, Thornton-Cleveleys, in this sub area, and is expected standard where they fail to meet Poulton-le-Fylde, and the northern to rise further by 2100. Tidal target conditions. part of Blackpool. Tidal flood risk flood risk is the dominant factor is the dominant factor within this • Undertake a strategy study for in this sub area but there are sub area but there are still a very reducing fluvial flood risk from significant areas at risk from large number of properties at risk the urban watercourses in the fluvial flooding, principally from from fluvial flooding due to urban Thornton-Cleveleys area. the urban watercourses often watercourses being tide locked. fairly inaccessible and culverted Whilst parts of the catchment, such • Identify and monitor culvert in places. Our preferred policy as , can be pumped condition in urban areas. will seek firstly to improve our at periods of high tide, others knowledge of the flooding • Encourage partner organisations to such as rely on gravity mechanisms of the existing collaborate to produce Surface drainage alone. An estimated 6700 watercourse network, and then Water Management Plans (SWMPs) properties are at risk in the 1% further develop our strategy to to help manage flooding in known annual probability fluvial event, reduce flood risk in the future. problem areas in Thornton- mainly in Thornton-Cleveleys Cleveleys. and Poulton-le-Fylde, with total damages to properties of £438m. This rises to approximately 7,800 The key messages properties and £523m damages by • Promote the opening up of 2100. Approximately 125 incidents culverts and improvements of sewer flooding have been in access to the urban recorded in the sub area. There is watercourses. up to 5km of transport infrastructure at risk, 21 community facilities • Improve fluvial flood mapping and 32 classified recreational of urban areas through further assets at risk within the sub area. modelling studies. Tidal Outfall on Main Dyke

18 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan Sub-area 6

Wyre Rural

Our key partners are: generally reduce existing flood risk Proposed actions to management actions. Wyre Borough Council implement the preferred The highest risk of flooding within policy United Utilities this sub area is from tidal flooding, from which the sub area is largely The essential actions to achieve our Natural England protected by raised flood defences. policy aim are listed below: We are not proposing any change Landowners to the management of the tidal • Continue to maintain existing defences within this CFMP, as this defences and major assets to will be considered within the SMP. their current standard, and The issues in this Flood risk will rise within the sub improve assets to an appropriate area in the future, although there standard where they fail to meet sub-area are only a few additional properties target conditions. Expenditure should be risk-based through the This sub area is mainly rural in which are at risk of fluvial flooding, completion of SAMPs. nature, with a small number of and flooding is mainly confined isolated properties at risk in its to agricultural land. Our preferred • Undertake a study to review principal urban areas of Knott policy would look to reduce existing existing maintenance End-on-sea and Hambleton. Tidal maintenance activities, where this programme, and to identify areas flooding is the dominant type of does not have an adverse effect where maintenance can be flooding within the area. The main on flood risk to property, thereby reduced in the future. flood risk from rivers is in the towns reducing expenditure where there of , Hambleton and , are few or no properties at risk. • Improve flood contingency and approximately 230 properties planning for areas at risk within are at risk in the 1% APE. This rises the sub area, such as Preesall, to approximately 380 properties The key messages Hambleton and Stalmine. by 2100, with approximately 70 of • Review current maintenance • Encourage partner organisations these properties at risk of flooding programme, and seek to identify to collaborate to produce SWMPs from deep water. There are a small areas where maintenance can to better manage flooding in number of properties at risk of be reduced, without adversely known problem areas such as flooding from sewers. 1km of the affecting flood risk. Preesall and Hambleton. A588 to the south of Hambleton and three community assets are • Seek to promote the development at risk. The Wyre estuary is part of of Surface Water Management the Morecambe Bay SAC, SSSI, SPA Plans, where known surface water & Ramsar site, which is situated flooding problems exist. adjacent to the sub area. • Facilitate the setting up of a District Response Group, to raise awareness of flooding within the The vision and sub area. preferred policy • Flood risk to property in areas Policy option 2: Areas of low to such as Hambleton, Preesall and moderate flood risk where we can Stalmine should continue to be managed at the same level. Wardley’s Pool Watercourse

Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan 19 Map of CFMP policies

20 Environment Agency River Wyre Catchment Flood Management Plan

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