Botcherby Botched bridge

All Our Readers

Botcherby Bridge 'Smoothing' works showing diversion of the river under 
one arch.

The Environment Agency is hell-bent on 'No Dredging'. It appears OK for 
extensive dredging down south, and also on the River Tyne at Haydon 
Bridge.
In the interests of maximising the efficiency of this obstructive bridge 
why not clear the channel by dredging for maximum conveyance.

At the recent kick-off of the Carlisle Phase 1 Melbourne Park raising 
and extending the flood embankment, the issue of fallen trees in the 
river channel was pointed out in the presence Sir John Bevan of the 
Environment Agency - any trees washed down to the Botcherby  Bridge will 
potentially negate all the raising of the flood defences, and we will 
inevitably be flooded once  again .

Many members of the public have reported this problem to me, of fallen 
trees in the
   river channel and in turn I have reported it to the EA numerous times 
with no positive response.

Whoever is responsible, be it the Carlisle City Council as 'Riparian 
Owner', the Environment Agency from a maintenance perspective please let 
us have some action.

A recent report regarding the River Petteril from downstream of 
Botcherby Bridge, a member of
  the general public was informed whilst removing various shopping 
trolley and other such detritus that they could be prosecuted for going 
into the river bed.
Everybody wants to be in charge and nobody is doing anything about it.
Please let us have some visible action

Richard Milne
Carlisle Flood Action Group

concerns and suggestions – a phase 1 recap

CARLISLE FLOOD ALLEVIATION PHASE 1 WORK STARTS – 31ST July 2019 

Richard Milne and I were invited to the works commencement launch at Melbourne Park for the Phase 1 flood alleviation project representing Carlisle Flood Action Group (CFLAG). The project is relatively straightforward as it raises the existing flood banks around Melbourne Park by between 0.5m and 1.0m and, crucially, extends the western defence further south to protect from the outflanking and over-spilling of the Petteril that occurred at this point during the Desmond event. 

CFLAG’s view is that this is the correct place to be working first to ‘plug the defensive hole’ in the City but it is probably a project that could have started 2 years ago as the risks downstream and upstream do not appear particularly complex. Raising defences can never be the best solution to flooding problems because any breech, error or lack of future maintenance can bring unexpected devastation – far better to manage river flows within acceptable limits via catchment wide projects and annual maintenance. Botcherby Bridge and lack of general gravel and silt removal remain on our agenda as issues of concern. This project this therefore seen as a positive first step only. 

The event was hosted by Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, and also attended by John Stevenson MP with senior members and officials from the City and County Councils. 

Whilst the event included a tour of the site and an explanation of the works involved as well as a media photo call it also provided an opportunity to raise outstanding concerns. During the event Richard and I were able to convey the following concerns and suggestions – 

· CFLAG – The area between the defences (the ‘wet’ area) are becoming quite wooded and overgrown. Surely this will add roughness in early flood and slow optimum flow through Botcherby Bridge when waters can more readily enter the Eden. 

· EA(1) – The scheme involves the removal of 5 trees which will be replaced at a 5:1 ratio but, thankfully, these were stated as being planted on the dry side of the defences. 

· EA(2) – The EA are not responsible for the parks maintenance and river bank de-vegetation. This would be the riparian owners – the City Council. 

· It is essential that the river is kept free of flotsam, particularly trees and logs that could obstruct the bridge openings. Prior advice that logs lying in the direction of flow did not constitute a risk was clearly not acceptable as the idea of their remaining in such an alignment in a flood would be clearly folly. 

· EA(1) – All such items would be cleared during the scheme. 

· Riparian park managers (Carlisle City Council) are to be consulted re future best maintenance practices. 

· CC Chief Exec – Has CFLAG raised this issue with the City previously. 

· CFLAG – yes many times, the “Desmond-12 months on” report and at the Environment Scrutiny Committee more than a year ago. 

· CFLAG – A traffic light advisory system explaining property level flood risk potential as part of property sale particulars (like current energy ratings) could target appropriate property protection measure and save wasted expenditure and improve resident safety (residents are more likely to stay in a property if they think they have protected it – this is not possible in deep flood risk like in Carlisle). This could save inappropriate losses in equity value for properties at low risk and reassure insurers. 

· Sir J. – An interesting proposal worthy of consideration. 

· CFLAG – The EA have advised that gravels would be removed to encourage water conveyance under Botcherby Bridge. We wanted to know what happened to the maintenance catch pits that were previously proposed as part of this scheme. 

· EA – more information and detail will be forthcoming. 

· CFLAG – The EA have endorsed advice from engineers Mot McDonnell that the head of water created by storage in Melbourne Park will force more water under the bridge and be self-cleansing during a flood. We take engineering advice that this would occur however that same advice suggests material moved and in suspension in this way will be deposited once the energy in the water is released ie just after the bridge and this will then restrict the downstream channel north of Botcherby Bridge and compromise oncoming volumes. 

· EA – more information and detail will be forthcoming. 

· CFLAG - Where the 17.5m datum storage level sits has yet to be shown to us in respect of where this is positioned at the bridge. Request still outstanding with EA. 

John Kelsall 

Chair – Carlisle Flood Action Group