Alconbury Brook Flood Group (FG) Report September 2022

Alconbury Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.

FG submitted cross section data thanks to several members who helped with measurements. New brook survey had been commissioned by EA to improve modelling, will cause delay of 2-3 months

2nd meeting with EA on scheme options, main issue cost estimate too high and benefits too low

Discussion took place about how to improve the viability of the scheme including

• New survey and modelling demonstrating more benefit

• Improving design to get best benefit for least cost

• Inflation, optimism and climate change factors to increase benefit

• Alternative funding streams with less constraints on contractor choice to reduce cost

• Combination of options to increase benefits

JP also to look at rejected options for acceptable elements which might add to benefit

FG will look at acceptable concepts to see if they can be applied elsewhere in the catchment and make enquiries.

40 Ponds project (Landscape Recovery/NFM)

• Work on Black Lodge Pond refurbishment has started, our amazing volunteers have cleared much of the undergrowth. 2 more small trees to remove this weekend. Excavation by contractor  to start asap.

• Buckworth Brook floodplain (scrape) improvement, awaiting meeting of Wind Farm trustees to see if funding available and  we can proceed. If possible, work completed by Christmas.

• Alconbury Weston Pond. Design work complete but now struggling with planning consent. Currently looking at getting consent for ponds as mining projects through Cambridgeshire rather than through a Huntingdonshire District Council planning application.

• Possibility of creating a Catchment Area Partnership with Natural England. An initial description of our projects have been submitted. Outcome could be financial support for individual projects of up to £20,000 including possibly some arrangement to give FG admin support and increase its capacity.

CIL funding

An application was submitted by the FG on behalf of Alconbury PC to install 10 trapped drains near the Village Green in Alconbury. The cost is very high, partly because so many services traverse the drain pipes. We have our fingers crossed.

Flyover Gabions

Progress being made with design work

Volunteers/ Maintenance

Team in Alconbury and Alconbury Weston have been working every Saturday and have cleared 700m of bank, and some silt/reeds under permit. Work will continue during October to:

• clear near the upstream footbridge in Alconbury Weston including silt removal, back gardens, at the back of Bridge garage and finishing off near the Dutch Arches. A tree permit has been applied for to remove a mostly dead Willow from the bank downstream of the main footbridge.

• clear back gardens and near the Heritage Bridge in Alconbury. Complete silt removal near the flyover under permit. Clear the banks near the second gate on the sheep field.

We expect the Internal Drainage Board (who are doing the banks this year) to start and complete flail mowing of banks in the next few days so we can identify areas that still need work.

Cambridgeshire Flood Conference.

Cambridgeshire held a very helpful conference attended by several FG members. Very interesting talks including Flood-RE about insurance and help to ‘build back better’, and the National Flood Forum. We also presented our work. Many good contacts made, and conversations had. Good event.