EA flood defence scheme opened

A £4m Environment Agency flood defence scheme that will protect more than 450 homes in Hampshire was formally opened in July.

The Fordingbridge and Ringwood flood defence scheme is designed to reduce the risk from flooding in picturesque towns along the Avon Valley.

The scheme was an integrated project commissioned by the Environment Agency with support from Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council, Fordingbridge Town Council and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The work was designed by Halcrow and carried out by Team Van Oord, which includes May Gurney.

This scheme includes a system of flood defences on the River Avon, Ashford Water and Allen Brook; the construction of a three-kilometre flood bypass channel for flood flows from the Ashford Water; and improvements to surface water, groundwater and highway drainage systems.

The River Avon catchment is of international importance for nature conservation and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The new bypass channel minimises the need for hard defences by diverting floodwater over a floodplain instead of trying to contain it, and has the added benefit of providing opportunities to improve wildlife habitats.

Fordingbridge has a long history of flooding - in December 2000 more than 70 properties were damaged and the town suffered severe traffic disruption.

At Ringwood, a smaller scheme was constructed with embankments, walls, a pumped surface water collection sump and environmental enhancements. There have been five serious floods in Ringwood since 1960, the worst of which was in December 2000.

Nick Lyness, Area Flood Risk Manager for the EA, said: "We are extremely proud of this ambitious project, which seeks to tackle a myriad of flooding problems. The Avon Valley is a fantastic environment to live in, but there will always be a flood risk to properties.

"It has been a challenge to provide the right solutions to the complex sources of flooding at these locations, but these will see a welcome reduction in the risk of flooding to 453 properties."