Flood plans approved

Work is set to start on site along the River Dane and River Weaver in Northwich town centre before the end of March to secure Government funding for the scheme.

Proposals put forward by the Environment Agency include a system of flood walls and embankments, ground raising, flood gates and demountable defences.

Defences will stretch along the Dane from Whalley Road to its confluence with the Weaver and along the Weaver from the new Hayhurst Quay to the Barons Quay area.

Glass panels will be used at points through the town centre, including along Northwich Marina and Weaver Way.

Members of Cheshire West and Chester Council's (CWAC) strategic planning committee considered the proposals on Tuesday, December 16.

Clr Jill Houlbrook, ward councillor for Upton, said: "There has been a tremendous focus on Northwich and it's a lovely little town.

"I think of it as Chester's baby sister.

"It's a delightful place to visit and it's so nice to see this coming forward, which will improve it even more.

"I like the idea of the glass panels which means you have the protection but you're not taking away the views."

Clr Norman Wright, ward councillor for Marbury, said: "I've lived in the Northwich area all my life.

"When the Weaver was dredged Northwich used to get flooded as well so I can't see it made much difference.

"Cheshire West has invested a lot of money in Northwich with Memorial Court, Asda and the cinema coming and Waitrose already there, we've invested a lot of money in the Bull Ring and relaid cobbles etc.

"I welcome this plan, I think it will protect residents – there's an elderly person's home nearby that's been flooded and had to be evacuated a number of times."

Clr Alex Tate, ward councillor for Lache, said: "Flood defences increase protection to homes and businesses and that's our priority as a council.

"The best laid plans can have unintended consequences but this report shows considerable detailed research has been taken and I'm satisfied the officers have undertaken the detailed checks and balances required."

Why does Northwich need defending?

CREATING confidence in Northwich and protecting 307 homes and 198 businesses from flood are at the heart of the 'for' argument for flood defences.

The Environment Agency's plans for Northwich are estimated to cost £4.5million, with £2million from the Government and £500,000 put forward by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC).

Clr Mike Jones, leader of CWAC, said: "Northwich has suffered from a great deal of a lack of confidence for 30 or 40 years for two particular reasons.

"The first was the top level salt mines and the second is the flooding.

"That's prevented any particular interest and inward investment in Northwich.

"The previous council filled the salt mines and we are doing a great deal to build on that piece of work, however there's still blight, particularly in the Bull Ring and that end of town.

"It's a very serious concern."

David Brown, from the Environment Agency, explained that this was a one-off opportunity for Northwich.

"This is a time limited funding opportunity," he said.

"We have to be on site by March 2015.

"It's very much a one-off opportunity for Northwich."

David explained that the Environment Agency has spent two years investigating different options for the scheme and has consulted extensively with the public.

"We've looked at dredging and upstream storage but neither type is viable or would provide protection against extreme floods we anticipate and experienced in 1946," he said.

"We've listened to proposals people have suggested and listened to the experts from the River Weaver Navigation Society and tried to accommodate their views and those of the wider community.

"We hope we will leave a lasting legacy for Northwich and for future development."

What are the drawbacks?

OPPONANTS of Northwich's flood defence measures fear that they will prevent the town from achieving its full potential.

The River Weaver Navigation Society lodged its objection to the plans, stating that although the group welcomed flood defence works it felt th missed opportunities to enhance Weaver Way and create an attractive waterside environment.

John Tackley, chairman of the River Weaver Navigation Society, appealed to members of the strategic planning committee before they considered the plans.

He said: "We feel that this application should be rejected as it stands.

"Northwich is a riverside town whose future prosperity can most easily be achieved by developing the full potential of its picturesque river.

"The Weaver in Northwich is capable of taking larger sea-going craft but years of neglect are denying these craft access to the river as it continues to silt up.

"More and more this neglect, largely a lack of dredging and the encroachment of weed growth, is holding back the flood water that needs to be rapidly progressed downstream.

"The current proposals seem to perpetuate this neglect by largely ignoring this particular problem and sealing off the river frontage from boating and pedestrian access altogether by erecting high flood walls on Weaver Way."

John said that flood prevention work on the Somerset Levels included dredging to hasten the flow of flood water to the sea and argued that this should be adopted in Northwich.

He added: "The river frontage can then remain accessible and the opportunity taken to improve the neglected moorings and pedestrian access which is necessary if the £80 million contemplated expenditure on Barons Quay is to bring any real rewards.

"Northwich, after experiencing years of planning blight and previous appalling planning decisions, should aim to recreate a new image in which the river is a paramount part."

What prompted the plans?

PLANS to keep Northwich safe from environmental disaster have been designed to withstand the kinds of floods that only happen once in 100 years.

They have been prompted by floods that took place in the town centre in September and December 2012, when the rivers Dane and Weaver burst their banks and filled the Bull Ring, London Road and Dane Street with water.

This kind of flood is classed as a one in five year event, which pales in comparison with a one in 100 year flood, as was illustrated by the dramatic events of 1946.

This saw flood waters pour into London Road, Dane Street, High Street, Witton Street and Crown Street.

The Great Flood of 1946 also led to a dramatic rescue when three men were marooned on the roof of the former Regal cinema, in Dane Street.

The trio included manager Reg Walker and commissionaire Wilfrid Moran, whose rescue was later immortalised in a mural painted in the foyer of the cinema.