Burton on Trent flood risk management scheme
Updated 15 August 2019
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Burton is a town on the River Trent in East Staffordshire. Both the town’s history and its growth have been dependant on, and fundamentally linked to, the River Trent. As it stands, over 5,500 properties are at risk of flooding from the River Trent, 4,500 of which are homes.
Burton has a history of flooding, and has endured regular flood events over the centuries. The first flood defences were built after 1932 as a direct response to extensive flooding that occurred during that year, and the flood defences have been improved regularly since. For example, in the 1960s the wall between the library and leisure centre was improved.
What we are planning to do
To ensure Burton continues to be protected to the best possible standard, we need to improve and update the existing defences. There are currently 9km of flood defences in Burton which consist of a mixture of walls, embankments and some areas of high ground.
We have now started construction work on the latest flood defence improvements. This work aims to improve the quality of approximately 3.7km of the defences, allowing for a consistent level of protection from the River Trent along the town.
Some of the measures we are taking include::
- We will provide a consistent level of flood defence through the town, however, there will be minimal increase in height
- We will sheet pile sections of the defence
- On some stretches of the defence the sheet piling will act as a wall, with an embankment to one side
- On other sections the sheet piles will be covered by an embankment on both sides, with a minimum gradient 1:3
- We have supported East Staffordshire Borough Council on developing a landscape vision to improve the Washlands area
Timescale
We aim to start preparation work in early 2019. Construction started in June 2019 in the area behind Blackpool Street and on the embankment behind Paget School.
Work should be completed by early 2021.
Contact
For more information contact the Environment Agency at enquiries_westmids@environment-agency.gov.uk