FEEDBACK from the public has led the Environment Agency to review the design of its River Mersey Flood Risk Management Scheme at Warrington.
The agency and Warrington Borough Council held a drop-in day to talk to local residents about the project. Changes have been made to proposals following community comments.
More than 50 people attended and comments included the appearance of the entrance to Victoria Park and the security of the park. People were also concerned about the look of the flood wall – fearing it could be covered in graffiti – and the loss of trees along Knutsford Road.
Following the comments the agency has changed the design of the park entrance by including flower beds, grassed areas, extra tree planting and has removed planned benches.
The design of the flood wall has also been reviewed. A new trial wall will be built at Weir Lane, near to Victoria Park, to replace the original trial wall. It will have anti graffiti paint applied so the agency can assess how it affects the look of the defence.
It is also running a competition with Latchford St James CE Primary School to design art work, which may be incorporated into the wall.
Measures have been taken to minimise tree loss at the Bridge Foot end of Knutsford Road. New trees and wild flowers will also be planted.
The changes will be included when the planning application goes to the borough council towards the end of the year.
Dermot Smith, project executive, said: “Over 2,000 homes in Warrington are at significant risk of flooding from the River Mersey. We are planning to reduce that risk greatly.”
Further details are available on the website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodnorthwest under “flood risk in Warrington.”
2 Comments
As Chair of the Warrington Nature Conservation Forum I must thank Dermott for taking our views on board. Naturally we are not happy with the loss of so many trees but welcome the changes that they have made to mitigate the loss in this species. The EA have also made changes to their plans following consultation to protect a number of trees and animals with innovative construction methods.
Councillor, have you a degree in name-dropping. You seem to do it all the time.
Just a simple “the comments from the consultation have been taken on board and adapted where possible”.