Salford City Council 26th December 2015 Floods
Sec 19 report • Main source of flooding was River Irwell • 8 Boroughs affected • It was agreed that the EA would lead on a combined report • Salford provided a complementary document
Flood Risk
Context • Flooding occurred in 8 Boroughs within GM (only Stockport and Trafford avoided flooding) • Weather forecasts predicted storm would affect Lancashire and Cumbria • Any prediction is accurate to within 50 miles • Storm deviated to the south
Rainfall Radar
Rainfall Details • 128mm of rain in 36hours • Average annual rainfall approx 881mm • The catchment was already wet • Instead of some soakage into ground, water was running off into the drainage system and subsequently the River Network
Effects of the rainfall • Result was increased flow (amount of water travelling along the River Irwell) • Increased water levels • 37 of 44 river gauges (level sensors) recorded highest ever levels • Manchester Racecourse recorded a level 1.3m higher than the 1946 Flood (previous record)
River Levels
River Levels
River Levels
1946 Flooding
1946 Flooding
Flood Defences in Salford • Littleton Road Flood Basin • River Wall Network • Additional defences – Castle Irwell Flood Basin (Reservoir Panel Engineer approval pending) – Demountable barriers to be placed in Heath Avenue have been investigated but found not feasible by the EA
Littleton Road Basin
Littleton Road Basin
Littleton Road Basin Flood Basin River Irwell
Activation of Basin • The EA attended the Flood Basin and confirmed activation • Calls to call centre from approximately 09:00 that the Basin was receiving water (public and Councillor) • 10:30 Forward Incident Officer (FIO) advised that flood basin had been activated by City Mayor • 11:30 FIO liaises with Environment Agency and residents, opens Sports Village and secures basin • 12:00 flooding started to occur
Heath Avenue
Heath Avenue
Lower Broughton: effected areas
Flood Risk
Salford Impact – 698 properties flooded in total – 500 residential – 198 businesses – Loss of riverside paths and walkways and damage to river banks – Damage to road and pedestrian bridges – Clean up and removal of all waste material – Excessive debris on banks – Damage to Agecroft Cemetery – Debris within Salford Quays
Support to Residents • Council Tax exemption for the period that they are unable to occupy their homes • £500 flood relief payment to each affected household • Salford Distress Fund established by the City Mayor • A Property Level Resilience Scheme is in place – £5,000 (home or business)
Support to Businesses • Business Rate relief for the period that they were unable to trade • The Business Support Payment scheme is being co- ordinated by the GM Business Growth Hub and Salford City Council • Businesses can also apply for the Property Level Resilience Scheme (£5,000)
EA Modelling Exercise • Computer modelling exercise is being undertaken by the EA • Model will confirm the cause of the flooding • Modelling results will be used to clarify the impact of the almost complete Castle Irwell Basin
Castle Irwell Basin
Castle Irwell Basin
Castle Irwell Basin • The basin is nearing completion and due to be operational once signed off by a Reservoir Panel Engineer • Physical works are complete, grass cover to banks is required prior to sign off • Basin will operate in a similar way to the Littleton Road Basin, water will enter the basin during high level events • Positive effect on future events
Flood Basins Flood Basin Castle Irwell Basin
Issues Raised • “It is possible to prevent flooding.” • “Salford was allowed to flood to protect other places.” • “The sluices on the Manchester Ship Canal were used to hold water back to protect a COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Site in Trafford.” • “There are sluice gates at Salford Quays which can be closed to protect Media City”
Issues Raised • “Something went wrong which caused the flooding.” • “The river wall is defective/failed and that is what caused the flooding” • “Dredging of the River Irwell would have prevented flooding” • “New housing developments within Broughton, built on raised ground levels increased the flooding to existing housing”
Issues Raised • “The David Lewis playing fields should have flooded to protect property but this did not happen” • “Boulders have been dumped in the Irwell which had an impact on the flooding”
Summary • Flooding caused by heavy rain resulting in high flows and high levels in the Irwell • The water level was higher than the wall in Heath Avenue and flowed over the wall • The Littleton Road Basin prevented worse flooding • The Castle Irwell Basin increases protection from flooding
Summary • Castle Irwell Basin will be operational soon • Lower Broughton remains at risk of flooding • Flood warning service is in existence • Resilience funding has progressed significantly but is ongoing • EA modelling awaited
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