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What does the Scoping Report Who can comment on the do? Scoping Report? The Scoping Report is a public document that starts the Anyone can comment on the Scoping Report and all EIA process. responses are welcome.

It is the beginning of a wide-scale consultation process The Environment Agency will send the report directly to a that the Environment Agency undertakes during the number of official groups that are called statutory flood alleviation design of the flood alleviation proposals. It briefly reports consultees, these include: Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough the key details of the flooding problems, where flooding Council, English Heritage, English Nature and the is thought to occur at present, how it might be addressed Countryside Agency. scheme and where works could take place within the town. We will also send it directly to a series of specialist interest Options for the remaining areas It also summarises the likely environmental effects of the groups referred to as non-statutory consultees that have a of Shrewsbury proposals that are then studied in greater detail particular interest. These groups will include: Shrewsbury throughout the rest of the EIA. By stating publicly what Civic Society, Shrewsbury River User Group, Shrewsbury we believe are the key issues and concerns, we hope to Chamber of Commerce and Wildlife Trust. learn from the local community and other interested parties whether they are in agreement with us, or think If you would like a copy of the report, you can either that we need to consider other options or issues. collect one at the current exhibitions at the Shrewsbury Library, Castle Gates or at the The key environmental impacts of a flood alleviation Borough Council, Planning Office at Oakley Manor, Belle scheme built in the remaining areas of Shrewsbury are: Vue, Shrewsbury. Or, you can request a copy from the Environment Agency by writing to the address below or POSITIVE IMPACTS NEGATIVE IMPACTS consult the document on the Environment Agency's Reduced risk to human life Short term disturbance website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk. during construction works Reduced stress and health Public access difficulties Contact us: problems during works Transport links and public Potential change in riverside Julian Francis amenities are safeguarded character and usage Environmental Impact Assessment Officer Opportunities to enhance Potential damage to Environment Agency the environment are taken archaeological remains Hafren House Improved recreation Loss of trees along river Welshpool Road facilities along the river corridor Shelton Reduced costs associated Significant construction and Shrewsbury J3 SY3 8BB s with flooding and reduced maintenance costs § Scoping Report property damage 1c Tel: 01743 272828 s. January 2002 The EIA will assess the significance of these impacts and 8 propose ways that the negative impacts can be reduced £ En v ir o n m e n t and the positive impacts maximised. Ag en c y How are the proposals put Are there likely to be any Shrewsbury flood together? environmental impacts? There are many different elements that have to be Under the Town and Country Planning Act, developers alleviation studied during the preparation of flood alleviation who hope to construct a scheme that is significant in size, proposals before they can be submitted for funding and or is planned for a particularly sensitive built or natural planning approval. These include: environment, have to carry out an Environmental Impact scheme • Computer modelling of the river to predict flood levels Assessment (EIA). The EIA is presented in a public report • Surveying property threshold flood levels to identify called an Environmental Statement. It also forms part of the planning application to Shrewsbury & Atcham The Environment Agency has started to construct flood which properties flood at different river levels Borough Council, so that the council can better defences in Frankwell after an intensive period of study • Studying ground conditions to understand groundwater movement and assist in the design of understand the environmental implications of any flood and is now investigating whether it is technically, flood defences alleviation proposals before they decide whether to grant environmentally and economically feasible to build • Drainage investigations of existing surface water and planning permission. defences elsewhere in Shrewsbury. sewers in association with Severn Trent Water Ltd The Environment Agency is preparing an EIA to consider The Scoping Report is to give Shrewsbury residents an • Estimating the financial cost of flooding and comparing this to the cost of constructing a flood the environmental impacts of the flood alleviation options opportunity to learn more about the present study that for the remaining flood risk areas of Shrewsbury. This will determine where defences could be built, and what alleviation scheme, as a means of justifying the study obviously excludes Frankwell - as the EIA process for form they might take. It is also an opportunity for the scheme on economic grounds under Treasury Rules • Preparing design proposals and consulting with Frankwell took place in 2001 and construction of the Environment Agency to gather information from local Shrewsbury residents scheme is currently underway. people who were directly affected by the floods of Autumn 2000. • An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assess the effects of carrying out works in various ways on An Environmental Statement will be produced, defining the nature of the proposed development, why that form The primary purpose of all flood alleviation works is to both the community and the environment of development has been chosen instead of others, and protect human life and reduce suffering in the flood • Seeking planning approval from Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council what its positive and negative environmental impacts affected communities. Secondary to this, is the protection of property, business premises and transport routes. • Funding applications to local government and the might be. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Mitigation measures will be proposed as part of the EIA to The Environment Agency, as part of its role as guardian of offset, as far as possible, any environmental damage our local environment, will also try to improve the quality • Appointing an experienced contractor to construct caused as a result of the construction works. of the environment whilst carrying out any works - and the works Enhancement opportunities will also be taken wherever specific benefits might include enhancements to the river feasible to improve the environmental quality of the river corridor for wildlife and recreational use. We will make Abbey Hardware and its banks and improve their use for recreational every effort to minimise disturbance caused and help purposes. enhance the local built and natural environment.

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