Two long-awaited flood alleviation schemes in Louth and Horncastle, to help manage the flow of the river Lud and River Bain at high times, were launched on Tuesday 11th August.
Both schemes are being completed by VBA; a joint venture comprising of VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins and form part of the Environment Agency’s Water and Environment Management (WEM) Framework.
The Louth flood alleviation scheme will see two flood storage areas constructed outside the town. The first will be located off the A157 and the second off Halfpenny Lane, both adjacent to the A16. The embankment of the north storage area will measure 150m and 200m for the south. Once built, these storage areas will reduce the risk of flooding, from the river Lud, to 355 local properties.
A new 800m long temporary flood storage area, which will hold up to 1,300,000m³ of flood water, is being built off the B1225; north of Hemingby. The Horncastle flood alleviation scheme will help protect over 170 properties in Horncastle as well as further properties in Haltham and Kirkby-on-Bain, from potential flooding of the river Bain.
Steven Hammer, VBA senior project manager said: “ As part of the schemes we will be installing ground breaking flow control structures, which have never been installed in the UK before and is something the VBA team is especially proud to pioneer.”
The £6.5 million Louth scheme and the £8.1 million Horncastle scheme are funded by a partnership of Lincolnshire County Council, the Environment Agency, East Lindsey District Council, and the Lindsey Marsh and Witham Third Internal Drainage Boards.