Telford & Wrekin Council to trial new flood barriers
Telford & Wrekin Council is to trial new flood barriers which will enable The Wharfage in Ironbridge to remain open.
When the current flood barriers are deployed the Wharfage is closed to vehicles due to the size of the barriers. A move which is unpopular with residents and local businesses alike who have to make what are sometimes considerable diversions, with some businesses feeling they suffer from lower levels of trade during these times.
When flooding is predicted to reach just above road level at approximately 5.3 metres, the new barriers can be used and the Wharfage can remain open. The area will then retain a ‘business as usual’ feel.
Trials of the barriers will take place firstly in a non-flooding situation before deploying them for real to see how they perform as the river level rises.
The new barriers will only work for lower level flooding and the traditional barriers will still be deployed where higher level flooding is predicted, however the trial barriers could reduce the need for the road to be closed during every deployment.
Should the trial of the new barriers prove successful Telford & Wrekin Council will seek funding from the Environment Agency in order to purchase the barriers and deploy them instead where predicted water levels allow.
Councillor Hilda Rhodes, cabinet member for Transport and Community Protection, said: “I am confident that the trial of the new barriers will go well and I hope that it leads to the Environment Agency agreeing to fund them for the Borough.
“The potential benefits of being able to deploy smaller barriers in the Gorge which allow the Wharfage to remain open are clear; no diversion routes will need to be put in place, businesses can feel confident that their levels of trade won’t be detrimentally affected, and tourism can continue as normal.”
The new barriers will be trialled over the summer months, with a ‘real’ deployment taking place when the opportunity arises and predicted water levels allow.
