Following pressure from Herefordshire Council, and with a £2 million contribution from developers, the Environment Agency has now come forward with its detailed proposals for flood defences for Hereford.
After initial objections to the height of the walls, the Environment Agency is to consider reducing the height of some of its proposed flood defences for the city
News of the reduction in height – from 1.7m tall to 1.1m tall with demountable top sections – was given to Herefordshire Councillors at a briefing by members of the Environment Agency.
The 1.1m tall defences would protect the city from one in 30/40-year floods, while the demountable top sections would be put in place when the city faced one in 200-year floods.
“This is good news for the city and we welcome the compromise the Environment Agency is considering,” said Cllr Brian Wilcox, Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation).
“The Agency’s original proposals met with a fair amount of criticism from local people due to the height of the barriers it was suggesting.
“We can understand people’s concerns and we’re pleased with what we’ve heard and look forward to receiving a planning application in the near future,” said Cllr Wilcox.
A planning application for the construction of the new flood defence, in the vicinity of Greyfriars Bridge, the Old Bridge and the King George Playing Field, is expected to be submitted next month.