January 2007
At its meeting on 8 January the Anglian (Central) Regional Flood Defence Committee allocated funding for the development of the Bin Brook flood alleviation scheme. See this web page
December 2006
On 19 December Keith Glover and I, together with Carolin Gohler of the Cambridge Preservation Society, attended a meeting with the Environment Agency and their consultants Halcrow.
The report on the feasibility study is near completion. It recommends creating flood storage in the Cambridge Preservation Society's Coton Countryside Reserve , just to the west of the M11. The Cambridge Preservation Society is offering to donate the land, because a small wetland area attractive to local wildlife will be created as part of the required excavation works to create the dam. Long-term (depending on additional funds) the small wetland will be partly accessible to visitors to the Reserve and an additional feature to enjoy.
The Environment Agency sent out a consultation letter about the proposed scheme two months ago. There were 12 replies, all broadly favourable.
The Environment Agency is recommending to a meeting next month of the Regional Flood Defence Committee that the scheme be funded within the local levy programme. This has become possible because another scheme, which was to have been funded from the programme, has been re-scheduled. For our scheme, the recommendation is that 50k pounds be granted for the coming financial year, to commence design and prepare a planning application, which is not expected to encounter any difficulties.
A large water main, which supplies an area to the West of Cambridge, has to be diverted as part the scheme. The intention is that this be done in the following financial year. Funding for this is probable but cannot yet be guaranteed. Funding for the main part of the construction of the scheme is likely to follow in FY 2009-10, but it may be possible late in the previous financial year; this depends on progress with another project.
So the present position is that it is likely, though not certain, that the scheme will be completed no later than 2010. In reply to a question from us whether we should seek at this stage to apply political pressure, we were advised that it would be better to assess the need for this a year from now.
The scheme is designed to protect the most vulnerable properties at the 1-in-100-year level. For most properties, the protection will be somewhat better than this.
June 2006
At a meeting on 9 June in Peterborough, we heard of progress with the Bin Brook Flood Alleviation feasibility study since work on it resumed at the beginning of the new financial year.
The team is aiming to complete the study by the end of this financial year. The process includes completing the technical appraisal of the proposed flood storage reservoir in the Coton Countryside Reserve (the other options seem now to have been discarded), economic appraisal, further consultation and submission of a planning application, some more hydraulic and hydrological modelling, environmental assessment, preparation of reports, and approval.
The key issue is what priority score this process achieves. The indication we had at the meeting is that it will probably be reasonably healthy, though this cannot be sure until the work proceeds further. The score will determine where the project is placed in the national queue. The amount of money available each year is not known, and new projects with higher scores can keep jumping ahead of ours, but we were led to believe that there is a good chance of our project being undertaken in financial year 2008/9.
March 2006
Funding has now been allocated for the completion of the Bin Brook flood alleviation feasibility study. Work on it never entirely stopped, but serious work will resume in April.
17 June 2005
Work on the Bin Brook flood alleviation feasibility study has been suspended for budgetary reasons until next financial year. We have had a meeting with the Environment Agency and their consultants Halcrow to review the work they have done so far.
They told us that the attendance at the consultation meeting had been exceptionally good and they were pleased with the large number of constructive responses they received. Almost without exception the scheme that people favour is the storage pond, which would also be a wildlife feature in the Coton Countryside Reserve.
The rules laid down by DEFRA for deciding whether any scheme may be implemented are arcane. First it is necessary to demonstrate that it is "economically viable", and it is rather clear that we will pass that hurdle. But then the rules determine the order of priority of the many projects the EA has to handle, and it is not possible to know in advance whether a given one will come high enough in the list to be funded in a particular year. Nevertheless, there is reason to hope that our scheme may be completed by the summer of 2009.
26 April 2005
Click here for the document issued by the Environment Agency's consultants Halcrow, to be read in preparation for the exhibition at Clare Hall in Herschel Road on 10 May from 12 noon until 8 pm.
23 March 2005
Today Keith Glover, Chris Wagner and I attended the second meeting of the feasibility study for a Bin Brook flood alleviation scheme. Carolin Gohler of the Cambridge Preservation Society came too, since one possible scheme would be to dig a pond within the Coton Countryside Reserve being developed by the Society.
This is advance notice that on 10 May from 12 noon until 8 pm there will be a public exhibition of the options, so as to get feedback and helpful suggestions. The exhibition will be at Clare Hall in Herschel Road, and will also feature a display about the Coton Reserve. A consultation document is being produced by the Environment Agency and will be available at least two weeks before the exhibition. As soon as I get it I will put it on the web.
When the feasibility study has decided which option to recommend, there will be a second exhibition, probably in July. This is provided that there is an option that meets the economic test laid down by DEFRA, though from what we heard this afternoon I think there are reasons to be optimistic about that.
18 January 2005
This afternoon, Chris Wagner, Keith Glover and I, together with Carolin Gohler of the Cambridge Preservation Society, met with the Environment Agency and their consultants Halcrow. The purpose of the meeting was to review progesss with the feasibility study. Their attitude appeared to be positive and they hope to have a recommendation for public consultation by April. If all goes well, they will then be ready to make a planning application in October.
Although we reviewed the results of the pre-feasibility study, they emphasised that they are beginning the whole process again from scratch, considering all the options, including the pond in the Coton Countryside Park. Any project will have to pass hurdles laid down by DEFRA, and these vary with time.
I think we all felt it was a good meeting, so please keep your fingers crossed!
September 2004
Message from the Environment Agency:
The proposal to move to Project Appraisal was approved today so we are now officially working on the project!
August 2004
Message from the Environment Agency:
We have agreed and now I have to obtain formal approval to proceed. Because of the timing of "approval board" meetings it will probably be September before Halcrow commence on the next stage.
The National Flood Forum is urging us to make comments on the government's consultation on a strategy for flood risk management: www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.htm
The Defra Consultation that will determine government policy on flooding for the next twenty years is published at
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waterspace/index.htm
July 2004
Message from the Environment Agency:
Still trying to agree a price with the Consultant! I expect to make a start next month.
June 2004
Message from the Environment Agency:
We are currently agreeing the Project Plan with the Consultant (ie the detail of the scope of the appraisal, the risks and the costs of the study). These issues all relate to project management and have to be settled and approved before we start on the study in earnest. This current stage is due to finish this month hence we should start on the appraisal proper next month.
Letter to Anne Campbell about funding.
March 2004
The Environment Agency has allocated funding to begin project appraisal on 1 April, with the real work starting by 1 June. The study will include flood storage in the countryside park, but also other feasible options. The timing of the construction of any resulting project will ultimately be constrained by available funding and heavily influenced by the eventual priority score achieved.
November 2003
Our MP Anne Campbell has kindly written to the Environment Agency and has had a reply which begins by repeating the information in last month's email. It then goes on to tell us that:
Subject to the Water Bill coming into force, there will be more central funding in the form of a block grant to the Agency. A national group is being set up to allocate the funds across the Agency. DEFRA have a priority scoring system. Our scheme currently only manages to score about 10 points, while 20 would be needed for construction to start in 2005/6. Because of this, the earliest any construction works could start is 2006/7. But it is expected that the priority scoring scheme will be revised again within the next two years and so it is not sure whether construction can indeed start in 2006/7. Nevertheless they will try to progress the work as quickly they can within the resources they have available and the guidance under which they have to work. We will again be invited to have representation at their project group meetings. They will keep us fully informed and give us the opportunity to contribute towards the development of any flood defence improvement proposals. We are likely to be advised of the time scale for the feasibility study and any subsequent improvement works after a meeting they are having in January.
For a letter from DEFRA giving details of the scores that are needed for works to be considered, click here. See also DEFRA's delivery plans for implemementing the conclusions of the flood and coastal defence funding review here.
October 2003: Email from the Environment Agency:
``Following a re-appraisal of the economics based on the recently published new benefit assessment manual and Treasury Green Book, it now appears that there may be a viable scheme for the Bin Brook catchment and as such we now need to progress this to the full feasibility stage.
However, as you are aware, due to limited funds that are available each year for this type of work, this study has to be prioritised along with all the other studies we have identified, and then programmed accordingly.
The current year's budget has already been allocated and hence the earliest that work could now start on the full feasibility stage for this watercourse would be next financial year ie 2004/5. This is however subject to the re-prioritisation of all our currently identified studies. Following a recent Government funding review and subject to the Water Bill becoming legislation later this year, the way that the Agency is funded is also likely to change and hence this may impact on the funds available for any works, including studies, in our catchment from next year.
As such, I am currently unable to advise you as to when the full feasibility stage will proceed, however it is anticipated that a revised programme will be prepared and submitted to our Local Flood Defence Committee in January 2004. Following this meeting I should then be in a position to advise you as to the likely time scale for the full feasibility study and any subsequent improvement works.''
August 2003
The latest news from the Environment Agency is that they will undertake an economic review using the new methodology. According to www.go-se.gov.uk/whatsnew/news33.htm, "the revised system scores projects on three elements - economics, 'people' issues and environmental protection and enhancement. The previous system was based on Ministerial priorities, economics and urgency." If the outcome is positive, they will proceed to a full feasibility study (ie project appraisal and approval - to a programme to be agreed). If not, then they will look at the additional option (channel re-alignment). They expect to carry out the review in the Oct/Dec quarter
Click here for the report of the pre-feasibility study
In a letter dated 6 February, the Environment Agency says it has reviewed the way forward for the Bin Brook Study. They have decided to conclude the pre-feasibility study and progress to preliminary feasibility stage. This will be entrusted to their National Capital Programme Management service team in Peterborough.
They will undertake a review of the economics, taking into account our comments and any costs and benefits that could be gained from the proposed country park on Cambridge Preservation Society land. In the initial stages of the study they will also look at the alternative option of a new bypass channel and local flood defences.
If after this preliminary stage there is still no justifiable scheme, the project will be shelved for the immediate future.
7 January 2003 -- note by Peter Landshoff
Today we attended the sixth meeting of the pre-feasibility study being conducted by the Environment Agency and their consultants Halcrow. So far, there is no conclusion.
The six meetings have varied in length, between 2 and 4 hours each. Keith Glover or I, or both, have attended each of them, and Chris Wagner's presence at some has been invaluable.
We have considered three main options, apart from simply maintaining the present system:
1 Enlarging the diversion channel
2 Constructing a balancing pond at the far side of the M11
3 Constructing an embankment at the SW corner of the relief channel
so that excess water would flow directly from Bin Brook on the north side
of Barton Road to the relief channel.
In order to justify proceeding to the next stage, a feasibility study, it is necessary to demonstrate that at least one of these satisfies DEFRA's rather arcane criteria for cost effectiveness. These are described here. (If your browser is like mine, it will not work for the Foreword and contents, but the rest is all right.) The present position is that it has not been possible to show that the first two options satisfy the criteria, but work has not yet been done on the third option. Because the budget for the study is over-spent, the work will continue next financial year and we expect to have another meeting in May. If it is found then that the third option does satisfy the criteria, the subsequent feasibility study will then examine all three options.
It is not at this stage obvious how option 3 would work and some fairly detailed study will be needed. Something like it was considered after the 1978 flood but it was not adopted partly because the diversion channel was at that time believed to be sufficient. A water main is also a possible complication.
You will be aware that the rain on 1 and 2 January caused alarm. On each day the Bin Brook rose rapidly, but both days the rain stopped in time to avoid disaster.
The following statement has been made by the
Association of British Insurers:
Flood cover
The ABI's new Statement of Principles, which came into affect on the 1st January 2003, reaffirms insurers' commitment to continue to provide flood insurance to as many flood-vulnerable properties as possible. Flood insurance will continue to be offered to flood-risk properties currently protected to the Government's minimum flood defence standards, and to those properties where the development of flood defences is planned in the next five years.
