A multi-million pound defense to help protect residents in the Catterick area from flooding and keep traffic moving on one of England’s main north-south routes has been officially opened today, Friday 27 April.
It is the first time Highways England and the Environment Agency have worked together on a jointly-funded flood scheme.
The new flood reservoir, located between Brough Park and the A1(M), uses large embankments up to 6m high to hold 91 million gallons of water – equivalent to more than 130 Olympic swimming pools.
According to the EA, the project will slow the flow of water through Brough Beck, which previously overflowed in severe weather. This has been managed by putting meanders in the beck and building a control structure incorporating two ‘hydro-brakes’ to control the flow of water.
The scheme was made possible with support from Highways England, Local Levy and North Yorkshire County Council, Richmondshire District Council, the Parish Council and the local community.