Row over Upton barrier plan (From Worcester News)

Row over Upton barrier plan

12:40pm Thursday 13th August 2009

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MAKING a permanant wall part of a riverside town’s flood defences could hurt trade, according to a pub owner.

There is no argument in Upton-upon-Severn about the town needing flood defences to protect the livelihoods of traders and pubs and the well-being of residents living near the waterfront.

In July 2007, the town’s residents and businesses were hit hard by the flooding.

But the Environment Agency’s £3.6 million plans currently prefer a landscaped 400-metre permenant wall running from the town’s road bridge, the length of Waterside past the Swan pub.

The project cost is split between two phases; a bund to protect the New Street area and the waterfront.

Co-owner of the pub and town councillor Sue Thompson is worried building a permanant wall outside the riverside pub will hurt trade and wants to look at an alternative. She believes a self-raising barrier produced by Droitwich-based firm UK Flood Barriers (UKFB) could be a cost-effective solution, leaving the riverside view open.

“No matter how pretty a brick wall looks, people come to see the river,” she said.

“As a defence for the town, the people of the town should be given all the options. Until we see these barriers and get all the information, we cannot say whether it is right or wrong for us.”

The EA have already considered the self-raising barrier,and members of Upton Town Council are travelling to UKFB’s Droitwich headquarters on Monday for a briefing and demonstration of the barriers.

Paul Thomas, town mayor, believes looking at other alternatives so late in the day could hurt Upton’s chances of getting riverside defences.

“The scheme is 95 per cent ready,” he said.

“Some councillors don’t want the look of Upton to change and I can understand that. But we risk missing the boat.

“We don’t know how long the EA will have the funding for.”

Frank Kelly, UKFB’s research and development consultant, said the firm had sent three different designs to the Environment Agency.

“It would cost a maximum of £1.8 million,” he said.

“For that we will throw in a 10-year maintenance contract for free because it is so low maintenance, we’re that confident.”

A planning application for the bund is being submitted next month.

A public consultation on the waterfront defences is being held on Thursday, September 3. A venue has yet to be arranged.

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