Work has started on the Burton flood defence project at Blackpool Street and at Paget High School, with work due to start at the library and leisure centre in coming weeks
The Environment Agency’s £30m project to improve the Burtons flood defences are right on schedule.
The improved defences, due to be complete in March 2021, will better protect the people of Burton from the risk of flooding.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We’re proud to be delivering better flood protection for the people of Burton. The recent high river levels are a timely reminder of why this work to protect 4,500 homes and over 1,000 businesses from flooding is essential.
“From the rain the other week, we saw The Washlands flooded, with water coming up to the flood defences. Without the existing defences, parts of the town would have flooded, we last saw levels like this in 2000, 2007 and 2012.”
The work of the Environment Agency, and their contractors Galliford Try and Black & Veatch, will improve 3.7km of the 9km existing defences. It will also continue the work carried out in 2007 when other parts of the defences were improved.
Preparatory work at the library and leisure centre has already started. The Environment Agency is working closely with the local community and is working to minimise the impacts of construction of the Burton flood defence.
The spokesperson for the Environment Agency added: “As well as having flood defences, we’re also urging people to know their flood risk and sign up for alerts and warnings so everyone can be prepared when the risk of flooding is high.”
