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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment has been made of the Bauer-IBS demountable flood defences used in Shrewsbury in the latest floods; [154889] (2) what the cost was of temporary flood defences in Shrewsbury in the recent floods; [154895] (3) whether Shrewsbury is eligible to apply for funding under the Bellwin Scheme for costs associated with the recent floods; [154896] (4) what signage was provided around flooded areas in Shrewsbury to warn people of the dangers of contaminated water during the recent floods; [154897] (5) what assessment was made of the flood defences in Frankwell in Shrewsbury during the recent floods; [154898] (6) what long-term plans she has to provide permanent flood defences in place of the temporary flood defences used in Shrewsbury in the recent floods; [154899] (7) what plans she has to provide flood defence protection to properties in (a) Underdale Road, (b) Abbey Foregate and Longden Coleham, (c) Coton Manor, (d) Smithfield Road, (e) Coton Hill and (f) the left bank of English Bridge in Shrewsbury. [154900] Mr. Morley: The demountable flood defences form an integral part of the Shrewsbury Flood Alleviation Scheme. The February 2004 floods were the first time such barriers had been used in the UK and were a great success, holding back 1.9 metres of water at the peak. Seventy properties in Frankwell are now protected for the first time in their history. The performance of the barriers was assessed and recorded and operational matters are currently being reviewed by the Environment Agency and Bauer--IBS. The Environment Agency and Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council jointly purchased 1400m of Danish Mobile Dam at a cost of £72,000 two years ago. A 90 metre length was used in Shrewsbury during the recent floods (pro rata cost of circa £5,000) and together with associated pumps helped protect approximately 40 properties and kept the main road into Shrewsbury open. A comprehensive monitoring and survey programme of all the defences was carried out during the floods. Debrief meetings with professional partners are now scheduled to assess the overall response. However it is clear the defences and associated drainage pumping stations worked very successfully and Frankwell remained dry. The Environment Agency has undertaken a thorough assessment of the remaining flood risk areas of Shrewsbury. Further permanent defences are difficult to justify but the Environment Agency will continue to keep the possibilities for further protection under review. The Bellwin scheme is only operated in circumstances that are exceptional by local standards and unforeseeable. ODPM have not received any application from the relevant Councils. General advice about health hazards of flood waters was disseminated via local radio, leaflet circulation and on site manning. No specific signs were deployed.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

418 c637-8W;418 c657-8W; 154889;154895;154896;154897;154898;154899;154900

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Costs Flood control Equipment Floods Publicity Warnings Bellwin scheme Shrewsbury

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk