Work is progressing well on a flood alleviation scheme at Godalming in Surrey which, when complete, will reduce the risk of flooding to at least 90 properties in the town.
The £4.9m Godalming Flood Alleviation Scheme is being carried out by Mackley working as part of Team Van Oord and on behalf of a partnership comprising the Environment Agency, Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council, Godalming Town Council, Thames Water and the local Godalming Flood Group.
Godalming has a history of flooding, with four notable events in recent years – in 1968, 1990, 2000 and 2013.
During the most recent flood in 2013, the area around Meadrow and Catteshall Road were flooded, with access from Meadrow to Godalming severely restricted.
To reduce flooding in this area, the project team is building a new flood wall along the banks of ‘Hell Ditch’.
The flood defence is a 525-metre sheet pile flood wall, clad in timber, along the north bank of Hell Ditch. A temporary flood barrier – which will only be erected when flood water levels are high – will complete the defence across Catteshall Road.
The project team is also installing two pumping stations to pick up road and land run-off and other surface water from Thames Water’s network. When water levels in Hell Ditch are high, the pumping stations will divert collected water to the ditch.
Planning permission for the project was granted in May 2018 and the site works commenced in October 2018. The target date for completion of construction works is late summer 2019, subject to weather conditions.
The local MP Jeremy Hunt has been a strong supporter of the scheme throughout its development, and paid a visit to site shortly after work got underway on 9 November (see pic above).
Speaking at the time, Jeremy Hunt MP said: “The start of works on this scheme are the culmination of several years’ planning and hard work by many local organisations and people. Now we finally know the work is going ahead we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us and made this possible – it was a huge team effort.”
The project team has hosted a series of walks and presentations at the site while works have progressed, to help local school children and residents learn more about the project.
5 August 2019
