BUND Opening Ceremony
Kempsey flood risk management scheme
Update 12th July 2012
Some positive news... the pumps are now in place. The team have managed to create enough clearance and they were craned in to position earlier today. The electricians are now currently connecting all of the cabling and we should be in a position to operate them if needed by tomorrow morning, although I will confirm this with you.
We still have to commission them, and also connect all of the level sensors so that it can be fully automated, but from tomorrow they should be operable.
There are still a few jobs on site to complete, including some painting and modifications to the fencing, and also the removal of some scaffolding from within the chamber. Some of this is on hold with the current levels which are too high, but we are aiming to have this work completed before the opening day. Even if some of these items are not completed I have asked that the area is generally tidied up and the temporary fencing removed in advance of the 28th.
Who is flying the FLAG and why?
FLAG stands for the Kempsey FLood Action Group. We formed in January 2009 after the village narrowly missed out on funding from the Regional Flood Defence Committee for a flood alleviation scheme.
Our members are all local people committed to preventing the devastation, disruption and expense caused every time the River Severn and Hatfield Brook flood. For some villagers, this is more than a yearly event! In fact the village has suffered some degree of flooding a total of 23 times in the past 30 years. Read more about the impact of flooding on Kempsey.
Since January, the Kempsey community has united to raise money and to show our support for a flood defence scheme designed by the Environment Agency. We are hopeful that the Regional Flood Defence Committee will grant us funding for the scheme when they meet again on 16 September.
More than 1,000 people have signed petitions in support of the scheme. More than 150 people have paid £5 each to be Friends of Flag, and we have 300 members in our Facebook group.
We’ve also obtained substantial press and radio coverage about the scheme thanks to awareness-raising events including pub quizzes, a six-mile pub walk, a garden walkabout and Bund Aid – our spectacular music festival.
Worcestershire County Council and Kempsey Parish Council have generously committed to support the scheme financially and all the landowners who would be affected by the building of the bund have given their written approval and support.
Why Kempsey needs a flood alleviation scheme
Homes flooded in: 1979, 1981, 1988, 1989, twice in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, twice in 1998, twice in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, four times in 2007, three times in 2008.
- * 150+ properties affected in July ’07. Almost half had sewage- contaminated river and brook water in living areas
- * 23 floods in 30 years. Some homes hit 6 times in 12 months (Jan ’07—Jan ’08)
- * Pumping station flooded. Sewage in streets and homes presents a major public health hazard
- * A38 flooded for several days in 2007 and completely closed to traffic for two days
- * 9,900 vehicles use this major trunk road every day. When the M5 is closed, the A38 is a diversion route for thousands more vehicles
- * Flooding of A38 affects emergency services’ ability to respond
- * Thousands of commuters and villagers unable to reach homes.
- * Businesses lost trade for up to 13 weeks.
