The Environment Agency submitted a planning application to Exeter City Council last month for the next phase of the Exeter flood defense scheme.
Phase 2 of the scheme includes intermittent defenses on both sides of the River Exe, from Cowley Bridge in the north to Countess Wear, Bridge Road in the south. The scheme will reduce flood risk to homes, businesses and infrastructure in Exwick, St David’s, St Thomas, the quay area, Marsh Barton and low lying areas near Mill Road, Countess Wear.
The Environment Agency lowered the level of the River Exe this month to help with the detailed design stage of the Exeter flood defense scheme.
Phase 1 work is well underway downstream of Exeter quay. This phase started in August 2014. Contractors have made good progress deepening the existing Trew’s flood relief channel and will soon begin lowering the side spill weir at the top of the channel.
This will increase its flow capacity which will help reduce flood risk during high flows.
The check weir at the downstream end of the flood relief channel will be removed to further increase capacity. This will mean that the bottom half of the channel will be wetter during high tides.
Exeter has a long history of flooding, going back as far as the 13th century. The current flood defenses were built in the 1960s and 70s after devastating flooding affected more than 1,000 properties.
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