By Bob Horrocks
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| Peter Catchpole speaking on behalf of the Warrengate Road residents Image courtesy of Bob Horrocks |
Work started last May and was carried out by Alfred McAlpine Construction Ltd on behalf of the Environment Agency at a cost of £1.5m.
The defences will protect 13 properties and an electricity substation from flooding. The last time Mimmshall Brook flooded was in 2000.
The local MP, and Minister for Public Health, Melanie Johnson declared the gates officially 'closed' as she threw a bowl of water from Mimmshall Brook at the construction. Local resident Peter Catchpole gave a speech thanking the MP, the contractors, and the workmen for the project. A plaque was unveiled by Melanie Johnson and Dave Wardle of the Environment Agency.
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| The flooding in October 2000. Warrengate Road is on the left, Mimmshall Brook on the right. Camera courtesy of Fujifilm |
The Environment Agency has had one practice run at setting out the signs warning people of the closed gates, closing the gates and roadside drain holes, and putting warning lights on the hooks on the closed gates.
They say they will have a few more practices to ensure they will get it right when it is done for real. It has not been decided yet how often they will practise this, but they will close the gates and drain holes along the roadway at least once a year to ensure they still function.
A photogallery has been put together showing the site taken on 25 February 2004. You can discuss this issue in this site’s Forum.
5 March 2004
Related News
Flood alleviation work completed - 26 February 2004
Six months of flood alleviation work - 23 May 2003
Flood alleviation work underway - 4 March 2003
Flood warning for local river - 2 January 2003
Mimmshall Brook flood alleviation work - 26 October 2002
Flood defence public meeting - 9 October 2002
Homes evacuated following flooding - 30 October 2000
Warrengate Road flooding photogallery - 30 October 2000
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