UK Flood Barriers selected by Environment Agency to protect Cockermouth
AN innovative Droitwich business manufacturing flood defence products has been chosen by the Environment Agency to provide a self-closing flood barrier as part of its scheme to reduce the risk of flooding in Cockermouth.
The scheme encompasses a number of flood protection solutions, including the pioneering SCFB® flood defence system, which is designed to offer maximum protection from floods.
This scheme is a landmark for UKFB as it is the first time the SCFB has been specified by the Environment Agency in a project to protect a community in the UK.
The SCFB is part of its self-closing flood barrier range and is a permanently and invisibly-installed passive flood defence system that automatically rises using the power of the approaching flood water.
Situated in-front of the existing flood wall at Cockermouth, the SCFB® will be tailor-made to meet the requirements of the relief project, which stretches for 120 linear metres of riverbank along the River Cocker. When deployed, the SCFB will rise to one metre, offering an additional half metre of protection above the wall.
Cockermouth has been victim to some of the most series flooding in recent history; most memorably in 2009 when the rivers Derwent and Cocker both broke their banks after a record 12.3 inches of rainwater fell in just 24 hours. Water levels subsequently rose more than 8ft and river flow reached 20 knots, resulting in damage to homes worth an estimated £200m.
While the floods have been estimated to be a one-in-450 year occurrence, the new flood defence scheme has been chosen as the most efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solution to provide protection for a ‘one-in-100-year event’.
Frank Kelly, CEO of UKFB, said: “The SCFB passive flood system is undoubtedly the most effective product of its kind, not only for its ability to provide maximum protection, but to do so with minimum impact on the surroundings, and at a reasonable cost.
“The product has been deployed successfully across the world, including projects in ROI, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, the USA and Australia, and we’re thrilled that it has finally been specified in a government-funded project in the UK, where we manufacture our products.”
Keith Roddy, Environment Agency Project Manager, added: “The people of Cockermouth presented the Environment Agency with two challenges when we started designing their flood risk management scheme – they wanted us to reduce the risk of flooding to their homes and businesses, and they wanted us to maintain the heritage of this beautiful market town.
“The SCFB will allow us to provide increased protection when the river is in flood, but maintains the river views for residents and tourists, and maintains the connection people have with this stretch of river.
“The barrier will complement the overall scheme, which is using a series of embankments, walls and gates to reduce the risk of flooding to 360 homes and 55 businesses in Cockermouth, and we look forward to seeing it in place.”
