Construction To Start On First Phase Of St Asaph Flood Scheme

Construction of a scheme to improve flood protection for more than 400 properties in St Asaph begins in October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has awarded the construction contract for the first phase of the flood scheme to North Wales based company, Dawnus. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This involves removing Spring Gardens Bridge and replacing it with a higher and wider bridge. This will increase flow capacity downstream of the city, which will reduce flood water levels in St Asaph. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The second phase of the scheme will see flood defences improved and enhanced in the city and at other locations, benefitting properties and the wider area. This is scheduled to start in January 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A drop-in session will be held in St Asaph on Wednesday 5 October (2pm-7pm) so that local people can find out more about when and how the work will be undertaken. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The drop-in session follows consultation with residents who have properties that will be directly affected by the new defences, which took place over the last few months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Once completed, in 2017, the scheme will also bring recreational benefits to the city by improving foot and cycle paths. and it will bring a boost to biodiversity by planting trees and blue bells, and putting up bird and bat boxes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tim Jones, Executive Director of Operations for North and Mid Wales for NRW said: “This scheme will make a real difference to people living and working in St Asaph who suffered such devastating flooding in November 2012 and have lived with the threat of flooding for many years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“While we can’t always prevent flooding from happening, we believe we have a robust scheme for St Asaph that will significantly reduce the risk and provide effective, long-term, peace of mind for people in the city. It will also improve the environment and create new recreational opportunities in the city as well. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re grateful to local residents for their support and we will keep everyone informed about the work along every step of the way.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Until the scheme is completed, short-term measures to reduce flood risk will continue on the River Elwy. This includes installing temporary flood barriers when required along a 150 metre stretch of the river. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Planning permission has been received for replacing Spring Gardens Bridge. A planning application for the new and raised defences is being made to Denbighshire County Council at the end of September. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​