Attenborough Village Flood Defence Update:
Did you know that ...........................?????
+ the Environment Agency (EA) has now formally submitted the planning application for the proposed flood defences in our area
and that you can submit your own thoughts on the subject to Broxtowe Borough Council. (It would be better, if this were to be
done before the 5th of June, although the Council will take letters into account after that date).
+ there is almost unanimous support for the principle of the flood protection proposals around Attenborough. However, there is
strong resistance to the proposed route along the boundary of the Village Green when a perfectly viable alternative route for a
flood wall (or preferrably a natural grass embankment) exists along the edge of the Fishermen’s Car Park.
+ the Attenborough Flood Alleviation Alliance (AFAA) wholeheartedly supports the vast majority of the EA's planning application.
The only part of the application that we take issue with is the route of the proposed flood wall in the vicinity of the Village
Green. AFAA is asking Broxtowe Borough Council to approve the EA's application, on condition that they reconsider the route of
the flood defences around the Village Green.
+ more than 200 people have already joined the Attenborough Flood Alleviation Alliance as individual members. AFAA also
represents a further 500 members of the Cricket, Bowls & Football Clubs, together with members of the Attenborough Village
Green Association (AVGA) who have expressed their concerns and to object to the route that is being proposed by the EA.
+ the EA's proposed flood wall along The Strand would be approximately 2 metres high, when viewed from the Village Green.
The wall would completely isolate the Village Green and its activities from the rest of the village.
+ the EA’s landscape consultant has stated in a recent 'consultation meeting' that “there is virtually no chance of a new
screening hedge growing that close to the proposed concrete flood wall”. The EA's visual representations of the proposed wall
and hedge are therefore grossly misleading. The truth is that there is serious doubt about the possibility of a new hedge growing
in the shadow of the proposed flood wall and sheet piling and there will certainly be no trees at all along the Village Green and
Bowls Club boundaries, so we will lose the natural backdrop to the Village Green.
+ the EA now intends to dredge The Brook, despite its apparent ecological attributes.
+ the EA proposes to use the Fishermen’s Car Park, within the boundaries of the designated SSSI, as a construction compound
during the course of construction of the defences in Attenborough.
+ 305 metres of ancient species-rich hedgerow that border the Village Green will be removed and replaced with sheet piling and
flood wall, when this could be avoided.
+ construction works in Attenborough are programmed to run between the summer of 2009 and the summer of 2011.
+ the typical site working width required to build the new wall is 20 metres. A temporary aluminium road will be erected on the
Village Green, parallel to the proposed floodwall effectively making the Green unavailable for normal sports and recreation use
for up to three years.
+ the EA’s estimated number of lorry movements through the village during the course of construction is 5,325. This will mean
dozens of lorries per day going in and out of the village, carrying thousands of tons of materials! Would it not be more sensible
to keep these vehicle movements outside the village envelope wherever it is possible?
+ there will be significant road closures to The Strand during the course of construction and construction traffic will be routed
along Allendale, Ferndale Avenue and along a new temporary haulage road that will be constructed in Works Pond.
+ separate safe pedestrian footpaths cannot be provided along certain sections of the roads during the course of construction.
+ 7 footpaths and 9 public rights of way will be temporarily closed or diverted during the course of construction.
+ the mains electricity cables that were only laid through the Village Green and along The Strand in 2003 would be a major
obstruction for the construction of a flood wall if it were to follow the same route, as proposed by the EA.
+ the mains sewers along The Strand will need to be dug up and completely replaced.
+ proposed construction working hours are 7 am to 6 pm.
+ the EA have stated that there is no significant cost difference between construction of the flood defences along The Strand or
along the edge of the Fishermen’s Car Park.
+ this part of Attenborough is in the heart of the Attenborough Village Conservation Area, which is classified as having "special
qualities of local importance". Conservation Areas are typically "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the
character of which is desirable to preserve or enhance".
+ there is a perfectly viable alternative route for flood defences at the rear of The Brook,
along the edge of the Fishermen’s Car Park.
Your support can make a difference
It is vitally important to make your voice heard NOW by writing to the Broxtowe Council before June 5th 2007. Even if you have already signed petitions, sent in letters of support or joined the AFAA, we must ask you to PLEASE HELP US NOW.
Our May 2007 Newsletter has details why of reasons why Broxtowe Planning should withhold permission for the section of the scheme which runs alongside The Strand along with a form that you can complete with your own objections and send to Broxtowe Council.
Click here to view Attenborough Aerial Photo 3D Created on 10th October 2006
Click here to view our 1st Newsletter
Click here to view our 2nd Newsletter
Click here to view our 3rd Newsletter
Click here to view our 4th Newsletter
Click here to view our 5th Newsletter
Click here to view our 6th Newsletter
For any further information please contact mike.reeder@cvlgroup.com
