Bradford-on-Avon 'not being abandoned' after £11m scheme u-turn
The River Avon has burst in banks in Bradford-on-Avon on numerous occasions in recent years, flooding nearby roads and buildings.Mir Withers added the threat of a flood is "tripled" there because:It has a "huge catchment which drains through the town","Huge volume of water which goes underground, that floods properties from the grounds upwards",And town is in a "steep-sided bowl".The agency said it has ruled out the planned permanent flood scheme, which involved low walls and pumping stations, as prospective costs have more than doubled since it was proposed in 2017.
Mr Withers said the "impact of climate change" has also caused the agency to re-think its plans."Originally the plan was valid for the sort of weather we were having associated with the climate, before we started seeing the impact of climate change."Now we know the river can run through that town at the volume, speed and height that it does – we've seen it every winter for the last two of three years – the game's changed. We need to modernise our thinking and put in place a better system."He added: "We're absolutely not abandoning the town or walking away."
On Monday hundreds of people attended a special event held to provide information on how to protect homes and businesses from flooding in Bradford-on-Avon.The event was organised by the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Wessex Water.
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