Alconbury Brook Flood Group Report March 2023

FAS

• Survey data including over 150 cross sections and over 1000 photographs has been published and shared with Flood Group.

• Meeting with EA modellers (JBA) held March 17th to discuss issues that might affect the base-line model including for example sediment, sinuosity, soils, run-off etc. (discussion paper by FG available on request)

• Base line model will be ready by July and available to test options.

• JP now has two additional EA colleagues working on the project.

• EA understands concern about progress but argue that its worth spending time on creating the best outcome.

Pond Projects

• Planning proposal has now been accepted for Buckworth Scrape. County Archaeologist has written to say no further objections to new plans. Hopefully work will take place during late April/May  23/00429/AGDET

• Alconbury Weston Pond planning application has been accepted and is now available for public consultation. AW Parish Council considering next week. 22/02468/FUL

• Meeting next week with Milton Estate Manager will include Great Gidding Pond

• Outline sketches of Great Gidding Pond positively received by farmer.

• Landowner in Hamerton has approached the flood group with a view to creating a pond on their land near the brook.

Flood Mobile

• Scheduled to visit Alconbury Weston on April 29th. More info to follow.

Gabions

• Still awaiting plans

Sensor Project

• Gateway now working and receiving data from sensors and nodes. Hard work by B to get communication code working

• c-Things working with us to ensure system working well

• Next step will be installation of trial equipment in Alconbury Weston. Soon after that mobile app for Alconbury Catchment data will become available to community.

Herbal Ley Project

• Numerous meetings with experts and possible collaborators to assist design of the experiment and methods for base line testing

• Some baseline testing already being done

• Discussion with other farmers about plant species which prosper on heavy soil

• Approach made to Natural England for catchment partnership funding to extend the project and dissemination of results to farmers.

Blue Green Urban (Modular surface water retention system which incorporates natural processes)

• Meeting of Flood Group identified a number of possible places.

• Cambridgeshire Highways have said they will help FG evaluate possibilities with a view to creating a short-list

• Short list will be prepared for PCs for further discussion and refinement.

Ashden Award (£10,000) for communities working with water- next step if we are successful will be an assessor visit in the summer.