Totnes flood defences: public drop-in session
The Environment Agency is holding a public drop-in on Saturday 16 April 2016 to provide more information about how they plan to reduce flood risk by upgrading defences in Totnes.
The drop-in will be open from 11am until 7pm at:
The Civic Hall
High Street
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 5SF
The Environment Agency wants to share ideas with people who live and work in Totnes. They are keen to get as much feedback as possible before they submit designs for planning permission.
Dan Boswell, project manager for the Environment Agency, said:
We really want to see and hear from as many people as possible at the drop-in, as this will give us a really good idea of what people think of our designs before we submit them for planning.
By using the existing flood defences the Environment Agency hope to be able to carry out the improvements in a cost effective way which minimises disruption in the town during construction.
Dan Boswell added:
The existing defences give us a great starting point as we don’t need to come in and start from scratch which will mean our work should be less disruptive.
The improvements will most likely include raising the existing walls and installing gates across existing slip ways. There may be a need for individual property protection in some locations. To see all these things in more detail, local residents are being encouraged to attend the drop-in at the Civic Hall.
The Environment Agency has already been out in Totnes speaking to some of the residents who live closest to the river.
Tom Buxton-Smith, an engineer with the Environment Agency, said:
We are pleased that most people we have spoken to have been supportive of improving the flood defences. It has been really useful hearing what people have to say. The excellent local knowledge that some of the residents have shared with us will really help us develop our designs.
Those who are unable to attend the drop-in at the Civic Hall can read the latest on the project.
Note to editors
The project to improve the flood defences in Totnes is separate from the planned work at Steamer Quay to repair the existing flood wall. It is hoped that this work will be completed later in the year.