Beales Corner Flood Risk Management Project Update from the Environment Agency

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We have received the following update from the Environment Agency:

Sadly river levels remain elevated and this is preventing Cadent Gas from proceeding with their planned utility diversion in Kidderminster Road, which was due to start at the beginning of the week (Monday 12 February). We expect this utility alteration to take approximately 5 weeks to complete, and will take place within the current traffic management areas.

We are continuing to monitor river levels and get the works started as soon river levels allow.

Bewdley Left Bank Flood Risk Management Project Update

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The below update was provided to us from the Environment Agency.

12th February – 16 February 2024

We have now installed 86 of the 188 piles for the foundation of the flood wall. Piling is complete in Areas 4 and 5, with approximately 68% of piles in Area 3 complete, with remainder to be piled after Cadent Gas have completed their gas diversion. The piling rig has now been demobilised while other work is undertaken to prepare the areas for the final piles.

Unfortunately, we have had another week of elevated river levels. This has prevented the gas utility alteration from starting this week, however we hope to start this work early next week. This utility diversion is to be undertaken adjacent to the bridge and is critical to allow us to undertake other works in this area.

While excavating for the foundations of the flood wall near Millside Close, we have discovered an old reinforced concrete structure. We have now amended the design to account for this structure and will start this work in the coming weeks – this will involve breaking out the brick structure.

Next week BT Openreach will be undertaking the next phase of their utility alterations, close to the Severn Trent Water kiosk.

Overall, the project remains close to the programme due to faster installation of the earlier piles than expected.

We will endeavour to provide weekly updates however, we will not be able to answer all questions emailed to us. If you have any questions please speak to our Environment Agency team member who will be at St Georges Hall on Tuesday’s between 11am and 2pm.

Flood Summary Sheet for Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire 13/02/24

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Please see a summary of the latest situation below and attached. This will be the last summary sheet to be issued for this incident. We will monitor the latest  weather and flooding situation closely and will reissue the summary sheet where required

Summary

The forecast remains unsettled over the next 5 days with further frontal systems bringing rainfall across the patch. A warm front pushes through this morning bringing showery outbreaks of rainfall continuing into Wednesday. This will be followed quickly by another frontal system bringing heavy rainfall to the western parts however depending on the development of this system, larger rainfall totals may be experienced more widely across the country. This feature is set to clear overnight into Friday. Some drier weather during Friday will give way to the next band of potentially heavy and persistent rainfall arriving Saturday afternoon. Confidence in the set up is currently low. Rainfall totals for the upper catchments are expected to be 10-20mm per day for today and tomorrow. The Reasonable Worst Case could see up to 35mm at the top of the River Severn on Wednesday. For Thursday there is potential for widespread 10-25mm across the whole patch, with reasonable worst case totals pushing up to 40mm. Rainfall on Friday and Saturday is currently showing totals with less than 10mm per day. The Flood Guidance Statement remains escalated with high likelihood on minor impacts for the Worcestershire and Gloucestershire Severn for today and tomorrow due to previous high river levels and tidal impacts. For Thursday’s rainfall low likelihood of minor impacts has been flagged across the whole of your patch.

Operational activity

  1. Frankwell was removed yesterday (Monday 12/02/24)
  2. Bewdley Severn Side North phase 1 deployed
  3. Upton on Severn (Saxons) New Street, Waterside, gates are closed. Dunns Lane will be reopened today (Tuesday 13/02/24),
  4. Mobile pumps have been deployed at Powick, Upton, and Alney Island to ensure surface water behind defences is managed.
  5. Kempsey pumping station is pumping, but due to increased debris levels the penstock has been closed.
  6. For the remaining barrier sites, we are closely monitoring the situation and we will update you if the situation changes.

Fluvial summary

The Severn has peaked upstream of Haw Bridge. All watercourses have largely peaked and are receding with the fluvial peak now passing through the tidal section. Following the forecast rainfall from today, we will potentially see some re-rises on many watercourses during Thursday and Friday. In the best estimate scenario, the upper catchments will largely return to flood alert levels but with the Lower Severn still experiencing high river levels this may keep this section of the river above flood warning level for the rest of this week. Operationally, continued activities will be required at Kempsey and Saxons Lode. There is a chance in the reasonable worst case scenario that Frankwell Phase 1 (Shrewsbury) threshold will be crossed from Friday, depending on the influence of Hayes Basin.

Tides

Spring tides have now peaked, and whilst tidal levels remain high today they should start to drop away quickly over the next few days.

This will be the last summary sheet for this flood incident. We will monitor the latest  weather and flooding situation closely and will reissue the summary sheet where required.

Flood Summary Sheet for Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire 12/02/24

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The Flood Guidance Statement is currently yellow for Worcestershire and Gloucestershire for the next 3 days reflecting the likelihood of minor impacts from the River Severn and high tides.

Summary

Isolated showers today (Monday) before frontal rain arrives on Tuesday morning from the southwest bringing modest rainfall amounts. This could result in rivers reaching flood alert levels on the upper Severn in particular. On Thursday, there is still quite a lot of uncertainty in the forecast particularly around how quickly the front will pass through. Current rainfall totals have improved since yesterday, but there is still potential for renewed rises on the Severn similar to levels seen over the weekend, with flood warnings and low-level operational activity possible again from Friday. Elsewhere could see widespread flood alerts and isolated flood warnings. However, due to the very low confidence the forecast for Thursday and Friday remains changeable.

Weather

  1. Today (Monday) there is a continuation of showers across the patch with catchment averages of generally 1mm to 5mm and isolated maximums of perhaps 10mm in northern and western areas.
  2. On Tuesday into Wednesday, a frontal system will bring shower outbreaks of rain with isolated totals of 10mm to 30mm over the upper Severn, Wye & Teme and 5mm to 15mm elsewhere.
  3. Latest rainfall totals for Thursday into Friday are 10mm to 25mm across the area. This is still very low confidence as a lot depends on the speed that the front crosses the area.
  4. Into the weekend the current signal is for unsettled conditions to remain in place.

Operational activity

  1. Frankwell being removed this morning, Mon 12/02
  2. Bewdley Severn Side North phase 1 deployed
  3. Upton on Severn (Saxons) New Street, Waterside, and Dunns Lane Gates are closed.
  4. Mobile pumps have been deployed at Powick, Upton, and Alney Island to ensure surface water behind defences is managed.
  5. Kempsey pumping station is pumping, but due to increased debris levels the penstock has been closed.
  6. For the remaining barrier sites, we are closely monitoring the situation and we will update you if the situation changes.

Fluvial summary

  1. The Severn has peaked upstream of Haw Bridge. Levels elsewhere continue to fall, however frontal rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday could cause renewed rises with flood alerts possible mainly on the upper Severn.There is a signal for some widespread heavy rainfall on Thursday into Friday. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding this rainfall, however, the latest forecast is suggesting renewed flood alerts and flood warnings from Friday and over next weekend and potentially renewed operational levels on the River Severn.

 

Tides

  1. Tidal levels on the Severn and Wye estuaries continue to slowly increase with levels peaking today.  After Wednesday Astronomic tidal levels will slowly start to drop and move towards Neap tides in the Severn and Wye Estuaries.
  2. Tidal and fluvial interaction at Gloucester and Sandhurst remains the key area of focus with the Severn Estuary alert in force and several associated tidal warnings in place.  Levels are expected to start to slowly drop at Sandhurst and Gloucester on Tuesday evening’s tides.  Water levels at Gloucester and Sandhurst are expected to be highest on this morning’s tide, where we could see 3.9 to 4.3 metres at Gloucester and 4.4 to 4.6 metres at Sandhurst.
  3. Levels at Sandhurst and Gloucester are not expected to get near to those experienced during Storm Henk (4.7 metres at Gloucester).
  4. The Wye Estuary flood alert is currently in force and likely to be required until Wednesday morning’s tide.  The Wye Estuary warnings at Chepstow and Brockweir have been reached on this morning’s tide and may be required for Tuesday morning’s tide.

Pause in piling – Beales Corner

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Due to the high river levels, the Environment Agency have had to pause the piling activities until river levels drop.

Despite the previous delays due to flooding, the Project Team has been working very hard to catch up and keep us on programme. We are hoping that this current pause will have minimal impact and we will be able to restart the piling work at the earliest opportunity.

WMD Summary Sheet 09/02/24 10:30

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Please find attached the final Flood Summary Sheet for Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

Following the rainfall we saw on Thursday and into this morning. This has resulted in river levels rising on the River Severn, Avon, Wye and Teme and several of the smaller tributaries. River levels are expected to continue to rise over the next couple of days in response to this rainfall. Mainly showers today, tomorrow, Sunday and Monday with the potential for more frontal rainfall Tuesday to Thursday.  Thereafter it looks to be turning more settled.  Rainfall today and over the weekend and into Monday does not look impactful with today’s totals being the highest with catchment averages for the Upper Wye and Teme areas are expected to be between 5mm and 10mm with isolated maximums of perhaps 15mm to 20mm.  Elsewhere in the patch lower rainfall totals are expected with catchment averages below 5mm and isolated maximums of perhaps 10mm.  Lower totals tomorrow until Monday with catchment averages generally less than 5mm and isolated maximums of 10mm.

In addition, we are also moving into a period of higher tides, which are due to peak on Monday, and to some extent may coincide with increased fluvial levels moving through the lower part of the catchment. As such there may be some minor impacts to communities and areas along the Rivers Severn and Wye estuaries on Sunday, and into the beginning of next week.

Operational barriers; Frankwell phases 1 is being deployed Friday.  Bewdley Severnside Phase 1 being deployed Friday afternoon. Waterside and New Street gates at Upton upon Severn have been closed. Dunns Lane is expected to be closed Friday afternoon.

We are closely monitoring the situation.

Flood Barriers to be Installed Today as Precautionary Measure

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We’ve been notified by the Environment Agency that flood barriers will be installed today as a precautionary measure in response to the heavy rainfall.

For the latest information about flooding in Bewdley, please visit:

https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/location?location=bewdley

**CANCELLED** Weekly Drop-in for the Beales Corner Flood Risk Management Scheme

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The Environment Agency has cancelled this week’s Weekly Drop-in session for the Beales Corner Flood Risk Management Scheme.

The next session is scheduled for January 30th from 11 am to 2 pm at The Wyre Room, St George’s Hall, Load Street, Bewdley DY12 2EQ.

Weekly Drop-ins for the Beales Corner Flood Risk Management Scheme

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The Environment Agency are holding weekly public drop-ins every Tuesday to give our community the opportunity to come and ask any questions they have about the Beales Corner Flood Risk Management Scheme

Every Tuesday (Throughout January and February) 11 am – 2 pm at The Wyre Room, St George’s Hall, Load Street, Bewdley DY12 2EQ

The Wyre Room is located on the top floor of St George’s Hall.

You don’t need to pre-book, just drop-in at any time between 11am and 2pm.

If you can’t attend but would like to ask us a question about the scheme, please contact us at the Environment Agency: BLBFRMS@environment-agency.gov.uk

 

* Please note: On 20 February, the drop-in will be held in the main hall instead of the Wyre Room.

Event Cancelled: Flood Defence Drop in session

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The Environment Agency have advised that due to the recent flooding, the drop in event at Bewdley Rowing club has been postponed.

The Rowing Club have been impacted by the floods and a clean up will need to take place to ensure the safety of all visitors.

This will not be commencing until the upcoming weekend. Jacksons will be available for any pressing matters should the community wish to visit the compound and discuss any concerns on the 11th January. The Environment Agency will reschedule the drop in session once we have arranged with Bewdley Rowing club when they can next accommodate our session.