£22m flood alleviation scheme set to start

Work on the latest multi-million pound flood scheme for the East Riding and Hull is to start this month.

The Anlaby and East Ella Flood Alleviation Scheme (AEEFAS) has been designed to reduce the risk of flooding to almost 3,200 homes and more than 70 businesses in the Haltemprice and Hull areas, which were badly affected during the floods in June 2007.

The three-year scheme, costing £22m, will be delivered in three phases. It will involve the construction of flood water collection structures and a large water storage lagoon, which will be linked by a large storm drain culvert and watercourses.

These are designed to control surface water, intercept flood water and divert the flow away from residential areas.

One flood water collection structure will be sited on the Easenby Drain at Kerry Pit, on land off Tranby Lane, west of Kirk Ella, and the large lagoon will be built in the grounds of the former Sydney Smith School off First Lane, Anlaby.

Work is due to begin on July 24. The first phase of the scheme will be undertaken by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s contractor PBS.

Four short-term road closures are planned:

The junction of South Ella Drive, with Beverley Road, will be closed from Monday 24 July and will reopen on Sunday 17 September. Traffic will be diverted via Beverley Road, South Ella Way and West Ella Way.
A section of Tranby Lane, at the junction with Beverley Road, will be closed from Monday 24 July and will reopen on Tuesday 5 September. Traffic will be diverted via Beverley Road, Woodland Drive and Croft View.
A stretch of Woodland Drive, at the junction with Beverley Road, will be closed from Tuesday 5 September and reopen on Sunday 15 October. Traffic will be diverted via Beverley Road, South Ella Way and Broadley Avenue.
And a section of Beverley Road, between the junctions with Lowfield Road and Marr Bridge, will be closed from Tuesday 5 September and reopen on Friday 27 October. Traffic will be diverted via Tranby Lane, the A164, and Boothferry Road.

Dave Waudby, head of infrastructure and facilities at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We would like to thanks residents, businesses and motorists in advance for their patience and understanding during these temporary road closures.

“The closures are essential to our engineering works and will help prevent further disruption in the future.

“This will be short-term pain for long-term gain and the majority of the closures have been scheduled during the school summer holidays.”

The scheme, which was given planning permission in March, is being carried out by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in partnership with Hull City Council and the Environment Agency.

The council successfully secured funding for the scheme, which is made up of Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA) administered by the Environment Agency and Local Growth Fund (LGF) through the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.

As part of the project there are also plans to create a sports facility and pitches on the First Lane site, subject to planning permission.

Cllr Symon Fraser, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s portfolio holder for strategic asset management, housing and environment, said: “I’m extremely pleased that work will soon begin on this major project which, when it’s complete, will help minimise the risk of flooding to thousands of properties.

“The council and our partner agencies will continue to work on further flood alleviation schemes to help protect our communities for the future.”

Two further flood alleviation projects are currently in the pipeline – a £20m scheme for the Cottingham and Orchard Park area, and a £5m scheme for the town of Pocklington.