An official launch event took place this week, marking the beginning of a £4.3m vital flood alleviation scheme which will protect 739 homes and non-residential properties in the Yorkshire coast town of Filey. Delivered by Esh’s civil engineering division, preparatory work began on site late June 2020, and representatives of those involved in bringing the scheme to fruition met on site this week to see the start of the main construction phase.
Throughout the project, a series of earth embankments, ditches, and temporary flood storage areas will be constructed at different locations around the edge of Filey. Together with new drainage channels and culverts, these are designed to catch the flows of water from surrounding land during extreme rainfall before they reach the town. The flood water will be temporarily stored before being released at a controlled rate into the existing urban drainage system and ravines once a storm has passed.
Filey has a history of surface water flooding, with records of properties flooding dating back to 1985 and most recently the major flood event in the summer of 2007. As well as homes and businesses, the scheme will also help to protect Filey’s only secondary school, the Scarborough to Hull railway line, which is routed via Filey, and the town’s two access roads.
The scheme is being funded by the Environment Agency (£2.269m), Regional Flood and Coast Defence Committee Local Levy (£1.712m), Scarborough Borough Council (£369k) and Filey Town Council (£20k).
Due for completion in Spring 2021, construction is taking place on council and private land following many months of agreeing land purchases and access arrangements, which were finalised in March this year.
Cllr Michelle Donohue Moncrieff, Scarborough Borough Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, said: “I am really pleased that the flood alleviation scheme is underway and to see the great progress made on site by our contractor in a very short space of time.
“In contrast, it has not been a straightforward journey to get to this point. It has taken many years of research, planning, design, funding applications, and land negotiations. The vast amount of work represents a herculean effort from so many people. I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in getting the scheme to this point; it really is a momentous achievement.
“Once completed, the scheme will provide Filey with vital flood protection and give the local community the reassurance they need that the town will be able to cope with the impacts of flooding and protect homes and livelihoods for the next 100 years.”
We are pleased to continue our partnership with Scarborough Borough Council and deliver this long-awaited, vital scheme to protect Filey and its residents. This is a great opportunity to further expand our portfolio within the coastal and flood prevention sector, with Esh Civils currently on site delivering over £14m of flood alleviation schemes across the North East and Yorkshire.”
