Alconbury Brook Flood Group report for April 2022

There has been further progress with shortlisting options for the Alconbury Flood Alleviation Scheme. (The number of options has been reduced first from the original 31 to 11 then to 3). A consultation involving Flood Group members and Parish Council members is under way on the three options currently scoring best. We have been invited to provide feedback on May 6th. This is still an early stage. Full community consultation will follow when the best option/s are converted to into detailed plans. This will occur in the summer. Jacobs and the EA, with our help, will then build a business case to get funding from the Flood Prevention Capital Programme.

The EA (KP) have held an initial meeting with landowners from Alconbury to Steeple Gidding with a view to making a bid for an DEFRA pilot scheme (Landscape Recovery) which could improve freshwater habitat and flood mitigation. The Flood Group will be providing admin support for the bid.

Subsequently a smaller group have held a more formal Landscape Recovery meeting. Flood Group members will be contacting all landowners to construct a scheme. Likely ideas could include a network of new and refurbished ponds providing enhanced habitats and flood water storage; floodplain refurbishment enhancing habitats adjacent to water courses and their capacity; and well-designed leaky dams.

Volunteers have removed 7 more dead trees from near Polecat Lane as part of a long-term project to replace the trees with a hedge.

The Flood Group Charity has had its inaugural meeting. On 10th May 2022, the Charity will hold its AGM at the Sports and Social Club. Straight after the Charity’s AGM, the Flood Group will hold its AGM, which will be open to the public