Flood committee to spend £22 million for next year

The Northumbria Regional Flood and Costal Committee (NRFCC) will oversee spending of almost £22 million to protect hundreds of homes across the north east as it sets out its business plan for 2017/18.

The NRFCC’s plan will better protect around 743 properties from flood risk and another 100 from coastal erosion. It will include continued work at Greatham in Hartlepool, Killingworth in North Tyneside, Hartlepool Headland Coastal Protection Scheme, improvements to the Central Promenade at Whitley Bay, and Monkton Village Flood Alleviation Study in South Tyneside.

It also announced in its 2016/17 report that it has overseen 110 projects costing £24.5 million over the past year, reducing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to 1,291 properties.

Projects include Lustrum Beck flood alleviation scheme in partnership with Stockton Borough Council which better protects over 150 properties, and the Brunton Park scheme in partnership with Northumbrian Water and Newcastle City Council, which addressed sewer flooding issues and reduces the risk of flooding from the Ouseburn.

A dam on Cotting Burn, the final part of the £28 million Morpeth flood alleviation scheme which protects 1,000 homes and businesses in the town, was also completed.

This is the third year of a six-year programme of work that was agreed in January 2015. The business plan will be updated each year to take into consideration any adjustments to the £108 million programme, which will better protect a total of 5,300 properties once complete.

The NRFCC receives funding from a variety of sources, including government Grant-in-Aid, public and private contributions and a levy raised through local authorities.

Leila Huntington, flood and coastal risk manager for the Environment Agency in the north east, said: “On completion of our £22 million programme of work for the coming year, we will see a reduction in flood and coastal risk to around 843 homes and businesses in the region, as well as creating 30 hectares of new water dependent wildlife habitat.

“The committee is a great example of true partnership working, with all local councils, the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water pulling together on behalf of communities in the north east.

“It has an essential role to play in developing and completing flood risk management projects which reflect local priorities and understand the needs of communities.

“This is the third year of our six-year programme – so far we have already better protected 2,045 properties, bringing significant benefits to communities, properties, businesses and the environment, and this work will continue.”