£50m barrier scheme to protect Bristol from floods
PLANS have emerged for a £50 million tidal barrier on the River Avon to protect tens of thousands of Bristol homes from flooding.
It was first believed the scheme could be built near Clifton Suspension Bridge but experts now consider that it would be more effective if it was built at Avonmouth, although no specific site has been earmarked.
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The Thames barrier
Lib Dem Councillor Tim Kent said the barrier was unlikely to be built for another ten or 15 years but they had to think ahead because of rising sea levels and the costs involved.
He said about 30,000 homes in the city were at risk of flooding which made Bristol one of the most vulnerable in Britain.
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These homes are not just under threat from a massive tidal surge but also to rivers which could burst their banks or the run-off of surface water from nearby hills.
Mr Kent said the critical times were during spring tides when the Avon reached its highest level and water often spilled onto the A4 Portway beneath the suspension bridge.
For years it was assumed the docks could act as a massive drain to take excess water. But an expert has told the council that the docks could only act as a sump for about 30 minutes before water levels became too high.
The whole of the city centre is under threat of flooding, together with areas alongside the River Frome, Brislington brook as well as Whitchurch, Withywood, Hartcliffe and most of Avonmouth.
The enterprise zone near Temple Meads where the council and business leaders want to encourage new investment and thousands of jobs is also under threat.
Mr Kent said the Avon barrage would act in the same way as the Thames barrier which prevents flooding in parts of London.
The flood gates are electronically controlled so that if the tidal water surges, they can be quickly closed.
Some business leaders have suggested in the past that a permanent barrier should be built across the Avon which would extend the Floating Harbour and encourage new investment. But Mr Kent said that initial studies reveal that such a project might be counter-productive and actually increase the risk of flooding because it would restrict river flows.
It is understood that the Environment Agency, which is responsible for flood control, is keen on the idea of an Avon Barrier. They believe it is the best way to regulate tidal water and prevent low-lying land from floods.
The only effective alternative to a barrier would be high-sided flood defences which Mr Kent said would be ugly and mean that no one would be able to see the river.
The Environment Agency would be expected to foot the lion's share of the cost from its national budget for flood prevention but some of the costs would be met by the city council and the Local Enterprise Zone. It might even be possible to win some funding from the European Union.
Mr Kent said: "This is a long-term project which we don't have to rush into but the threat is there and it is going to get worse with rising sea levels in the future so something will eventually have to be done.
Jon Rogers, the council's deputy leader, who is responsible for the city's infrastructure, said: "Our initial work shows that a flood barrier, operated similar to that of the Thames barrier, could provide nearly total protection for the city from tidal flooding."
Comments
by bristolreded
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 7:10PM
“As long as ships much larger then the largest ships in the world can still go through then it should be built.”
by Paulienash
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 5:59PM
“My guess is Tim Kent knows something we don't!
My guess is that First Bus are about to tender for the ferry service round the floating harbour, keep an eye out for ferry service only lanes, sticky out ferry stops, the promise of a Mermaid card (bit like an oyster card but it doesnt actually exist), a bendy ferry (purchased from Angola) and an increase in fares.
You heard it here first.”
by Pyronaught
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 1:35PM
“so they are thinking ahead due to rising sea levels!!! I think they should be more forward thinking and start planning a rapid transit system for the moon - ready for the end of the world!!”
by dafty_crafty
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:27PM
“Does Cllr Kent ever bother to discuss any of these schemes with the Council Officers that actually are paid to deal with Flood Risk? I would assume not by reading his comments as he clearly is either ill advised or just plain silly!
The Floating Harbour already has flood gates (or stop gates) that were installed at cost a few years ago. These are already closed by Harbour Staff (on behalf of the Environment Agency). There are two "eqinox" spring tidal windows a year (March and October) when the spring tides are the biggest of the year. This coupled with low air pressure and strong south westly winds and high levels of rainfall all contribute to the surge. Therefore this scheme may only be used once or twice over a number of years as the infrastructure is already in place to prevent Bristol from Flooding. Along with sluices and the wear at Netham the risk of flooding into Brsitol at present is non existant.
Why waste £millions on a scheme that will hardly be used and that will also effect the Statutory Navigation into the Historic Floating Harbour. I would suggest the monies be spent on increasing the lower lying areas within the Floating Harbour (Bathurst Basin and Totterdown Lock) where "overtopping" may happen (from the New Cut) into the Floating Harbour. With global warming these predicted tides will only happen within the next 100 years......”
by matic_113
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 11:30AM
“it should be in Avonmouth and allow people to walk across towards Potishead. ps I thought Tim Kent is normally in charge of messing up transport - now flood protection. We can expect £100 million to be spent and Bristol to be underwater!”
by andyyandyy
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 11:21AM
“They already looked at having a barrier stretching from avonmouth to Wales which would also be used to generate energy but because of theh price and damage to the environment they dropped the idea.”
by Big_Gregory
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 10:54AM
“BCC should not let that clown Kent anywhere near any big budget projects. I wouldn't trust him to spend £50 wisely let alone £50million.”
by BristolDJ
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 9:24AM
“A bit of water on the portway and this requires a £15 million solution?
And the idea that something the lib dems implement not being reversed by the next council (which will be a new one) is also quite amusing! Does Tim Kent et al just lurch from one wild unimplementable idea to the next depending on what day of the week it is?! Unbelivable.”
by PE175
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 9:24AM
“So Tim Kent was allowed out from his secure accommodation to comment on Jolly Jons infrastructure project, but on the Bendy Bus U turn Jolly Jon was left to comment on that debacle, maybe Tim is only allowed out to play on Wednesday`s.
Looks like team work by the loonies, combined madness, all we want now is Hoppy to come out with a project like Gold mining in Ashton Court and that would end a Jolly Jon week, of silly announcements.
I always thought fall guy Simon Cook was left the utter the ridiculous on behalf of BCC or patsy Kate Hartas.
Roll on a independent Headmaster.”
by macadam212
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 8:50AM
“Extend the Floating Harbour by damming the New Cut - what a stupid idea, they didn't even do that back in the heyday when it was actually used by large ships. The New Cut was built to carry excess water past the Floating Harbour and to take the high tide water, it was actually built as a flood defence. I really glad they are not pursuing that idea anymore. Something like the Thames barrier at Avonmouth sounds like a much better idea.”