Lea flood management scheme to begin

The village of Lea, near Ross-on-Wye, has suffered from several significant flooding events over recent years, and Herefordshire Council has committed to reducing the impact of flooding on the village.

The scheme will see the installation of a new pipe to carry surface water from the B4222 by Oldmill Cottage north through Old Mill Lane, Crown Barns and Millbrook Gardens to discharge into Rudhall Brook. Supporting features including new kerbs and gullies will be installed, along with new flood walls alongside the brook to the west of the B4222, north of the A40.

The scheme is funded by Herefordshire Council, the Environment Agency and developer contributions from recent housing development in the village.

It is one scheme within a wider £1.89million package of capital investment being made by the council into improved drainage and weather resilient infrastructure across the county.

Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet member for Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We have all seen how devastating flooding can be over recent months and years. With the risk of severe weather events increasing year on year due to the climate and ecological emergency, it is important that we act now to make our public spaces safe and resilient.

“We are investing £1.89million in drainage infrastructure across the county in 2020/21 to improve safety for road users, pedestrians, residents and visitors, and help us to further our ambitions for Herefordshire.

“The village of Lea has been particularly affected by flooding and we are pleased to be able to deliver this scheme to reduce the impact of flooding on this local community.”

Work on the Lea flood management scheme will carry on through the rest of the year, pause briefly for Christmas and the New Year, before completion in March 2021. Balfour Beatty Living Places will manage the project on behalf of Herefordshire Council, and will also be undertaking some of the construction activities directly, while local, family owned firm Golden Valley Construction Limited, will deliver the majority of the drainage works.

To enable the works there will be some access restrictions on the B4222 during late November 2020, and the A40 will close (between Crown Barns and Brook House) with a diversion in January 2021 for four weeks. Further details on these arrangements will be provided nearer the time.

The project team will keep the community updated on the progress of the scheme, and associated road closures. Please see the council website for further information on the scheme.

Picture via Google Maps