25/05/10 Flood-hit families to get help

Flood-hit families to get help from £500k drainage repairs

Flood-hit families to get help from Ãâ?šÃ‚£500k   drainage repairs FLOOD defence works are under way thanks to a £500,000 county council investment.

The work in Glebe Park is needed because some homes suffer severe flooding whenever there is heavy rain, due to a worn out drainage system.

Lincolnshire County Council’s contractor Ringway will begin the upgrade on June 7.

County council senior highways engineer Nathan Whitfield said: “This project will benefit many residents by reducing the risk of flooding to their property.

“Two underground tanks will be built to hold the water during storms and then let it naturally soak back into the ground.

“The water will be cleaned as it enters the tank, improving its quality which is good for the environment.

“New pipework and gullies will be installed to collect the rainwater.

“Some disruption is inevitable but the work will be undertaken in stages to minimise the impact on residents.”

The work should take about 20 weeks to complete, starting with the building of tanks at Wolsey Way and Bunkers Hill.

There will be no traffic restrictions during the first phase but roads will be affected during the course of the project.

Similar work could be carried out in other areas.

County council divisional highways manager Alan Aistrup said: “We are considering problems in other areas in the county and have already secured investment via the Environment Agency to progress some “multi-agency” schemes in Waddingham, Whaplode St Catherine, Welbourn, Saxilby and Fiskerton.

“We are pleased to be able to address the flooding problems suffered in Glebe Park, particularly in Wolsey Way, which occurs on a frequent basis.”

It is hoped the works will reduce flooding risk to at least 17 properties in the area, which are susceptible to water flowing down into the estate.

Glebe Park Residents’ Association treasurer Ann Seymour said: “This work is going to be very beneficial to the estate, especially the houses that get flooded regularly.

“Some families get flooded every time there is heavy rain and it is very upsetting for them.

“There is going to be quite a lot of disruption, which is frustrating for residents but it will be worth it in the long-term.

“The upgrade definitely needs to be done and we welcome it.

“We will all have to work together and with the workmen to deal with the disruption to the estate because it is important the problem gets fixed.”