March Update

Hi Everyone

Looks like we are heading into better weather, which is most welcome. The rain has certainly taken a hold over the last few months.

Thank you, to Paul Bracegirdle, Clare Janes, Richard Janes ,Wayne Sunman and David Owen who have received training to enable the community flood signage scheme to be implanted in case of future flooding.
There is now an agreed procedure for identified Flood Wardens to set-up warning road signage on pre-identified roads/locations when properties are at risk of flooding and/or to help protect motorists.
This is specific to the area of Epperstone Village.
Further training will be available later for those who were unable to attend the February session.
Thank you to Robert Samson, Nigel Richardson, David Galbraith, Ruth Harding, Daniel Newton, Gordon Burton and Onyx Lamming who are also Flood Wardens.
It is fantastic to have so many willing to help and play a vital role.
As a reminder, if anyone is happy to volunteer and assist with the cleanup,  due to further flooding in Epperstone, please can you let me know and we can add names and contact details to the Flood Plan.
Cleaning equipment is needed and if anyone can offer to loan in case of need, it would be helpful. I am hoping to secure a grant to purchase the equipment, however, this may not be successful and in the meantime, it would be good to know who has any useful kit. Pressure washer, small water pump as examples.
Thank you to David Armitage for preparing the Flood Plan, such an import document containing all the information and contacts needed in the eventuality of flooding. This has involved a good deal of work, and we are most grateful to him. When finalised it will be available and will contain location details of signage and contact details of volunteers.
In times of flooding, WhatsApp has been the suggested communication preference, therefore,  if you would like to be included, please can you let me have your contact details. We do have an active and current WhatsApp group.
There has been a recent update from Severn Trent and the issue of the treated effluent water released daily from the Calverton Water Treatment Works.
The Trent Rivers Trust have recently surveyed the course of the Dover Beck, at the request of Severn Trent. The objective, to improve the low flow issues, water quality, ecology and habitats.  This being very important due to the expansion of the current Calverton Water Treatments Works. A second meeting has been secured with Severn Trent and due to take place next month.
While flooding in Epperstone is most likely to arise because of run off from fields, river flooding from the Dover Beck also occurs as the water course is unable to contain the volume of water. The Beck is long overdue a decent maintenance plan and while two million litres of water is pumped into the Beck daily from the Treatment Works, it will continue to be unacceptable. There are no longer signs of kingfisher, voles and fish, which once were seen along the Beck. The quality of the water in the Beck is questionable and this is why Severn Trent have agreed a second meeting.
The Order Beck flows into the Dover beck. The water flow may be restricted at times of heavy rainfall.
The backup of water at the Order Beck was evident in the flooding in October 2023.
At times, the Dover Beck cannot cope with such high volumes of water. As previously mentioned, Oxton, Woodborough also the daily two million litres of the treated effluent water.
Maintenance of the water course would help, and this is what I am trying to achieve, albeit not successfully.

To be positive, we have seen an improvement of cleaning gullies and drainage repair in the village. We have been lucky, what should be expected is now often not offered due to budgets and other villages taking priority.
The more people that report issues with gullies and drains the better.  It would be handy to have a Vacuum Tanker through the village before next winter. Specific areas listed and if anyone would like to make the list or keep a record of any area that requires attention, I would appreciate that. Please let me know if you can help with this. Images and location, such as what three words, is ideal.

The work along Hagg Lane remains uncompleted. Various emails and images of the damage to the driveways sent to Via East Midlands. I spoke again this morning and the response was other work taking priority and the repaired pipe sits too high and the tarmac repair is difficult.. It is likely therefore it will be damaged again. It is scheduled for completion this week.

There is still the topic of ditches and sluice gates.
These are tricky, often riparian ownership for the ditches result in little or no maintenance which of course has impact on neighbours and could add to the flooding in certain circumstances. If anyone has an idea or would like to work during the Summer to remove obstructions in ditches before winter let me know.
Sluice gates are more complicated. The responsibility of these important structures is with the landowner and again may contribute to  Dover Beck water levels, so is important when you take all the above points into consideration.

Finally, If anyone has ideas or would like to offer any contribution to flooding issues, it is most welcomed.

Regards

 

Michelle Home