Gilberdyke survived the one of wettest
Aprils in the last 100 years without witnessing the flooding of the past. The month saw just less than 150mm of rain,
making it the wettest since the summer floods of 2007 – and wetter than the
five preceding months all added together. The Parish Council funded Phase One (of
three) drainage culvert performed as designed, with the surface water from a
large section of the village running away into Far Drain and on to the river. This relieved the pressure on the existing
systems in the village ensuring residents didn’t see a repeat of the flooding experienced
previously with no houses being affected, and no problems reported.
Phase Two of the drainage culvert running between the gardens of Scalby Lane and Greenacre Park, and under Station Road is now approaching completion. This East Riding of Yorkshire Council funded section has not been without hiccups, with a short piece of the road subject to traffic light control, wet conditions delaying progress and the water pumped from the excavation onto the road highlighting the blockages in the road gullies. The contractors have constructed a manhole in the road to allow the remaining phase three section of culvert, running behind the properties on Westbrook Road, to be connected to the system.
The final Phase Three section is to start almost immediately, but is not as straight forward as one would imagine, although having spoken to the contractors they are confident of being able to undertake the work efficiently, with the minimum of disruption and restore the gardens back to their present condition. Obstacles such as garden sheds, garages and fish ponds will have to be either avoided or removed and replaced after the culvert has been installed. On speaking to residents the issue of greatest concern is the lack of communication by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. I certainly feel an amount of inconvenience for a relatively short period of time is a small price to pay for the peace of mind of Westbrook Road and Station Road residents, and all those flooded in the village during June 2007.
The £1.5 million scheme to widen the dykes from Gilberdyke down to the river, install a new cross dyke and a pumping station at Blacktoft is still progressing through the Environment Agency’s long and somewhat complicated approval process, although the funding would appear to be in place subject to all the criteria and being met. So far the project has passed every hurdle. As a member of the Ouse and Humber Drainage Board I push this at every opportunity.
5 comments:
If the various residents over the years since Bellasize Park bungalows adjoining Westbrook Road were built, had rerecognised the open ditch on the bottom of the garden boundaries was dug for a good purpose there would be little further work to do.
If all the open ditches had been kept open and cleaned out most of the devastation of 2007 may not have happened.
The works so far have shown benefit already and the contractors have overcome significant obstruction by some misguided individuals along the way. Thanks to their efforts and thanks to the drainage board for belatedly quashing the obstructions by issuing the legal notices to enable access.
Amen to dry feets comment. It was unbelievable that one man created so much delay and grief with his attacks on the plans to install the big culvert and tried to pretend he was an expert in drainage with his circulars to residents claiming the culvert would cause flooding. Upsetting other residents by saying the flap valve would bang in the wind. With-holding permission for access across his property, granting permission, witholding it again then caving in because of the legal order finally was issued.
It would take one hell of a wind, maybe a tornado, to make a top hung steel flap move at all never mind bang open and closed. I think anyone making such a claim is not playing with a full deck.
How do you put up with the drivel Paul? Obviously you must have the patience of Job.
I am pleased to see the phase 2 work from the new large culvert through to Station Road and along to the phase 3 section is complete and the tarmac reinstated.
I hope the phase 3 progress through the gardens along the way to Westbrook Crescent is relatively straightforward and the project is finally put to bed.
I want to thank all the residents who provided historical information about drainage routes, those who worked tirelessly to build upon the information, the Parish Council and the members of Gilberdyke Flood Action Group who supported the efforts all through the obstructions and hold ups. Attempts to remedy deterioration/interference with the drainage system in the past had floundered - not this time!
I am pleased to see that the new drain has been installed through the somewhat convoluted route between Westbrook Road and Bellasize Park. There were difficulties along the way but they have been overcome and October has seen the new system connected into the existing culvert crossing Westbrook Crescent with the tarmac reinstated.
Some minor work to clear surface water drainage from the last few houses into the new route remains but hopefully this will be rapidly concluded.
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