A Flood Management Scheme for Orleton
Dear Neighbour
I understand that flooding is of major concern to many residents in the village, as is the dislocation it causes due to road closures. It cuts the village off from Orleton Medical Centre, the Village Hall, Green Lane and the outside world.
This year the disruption and dislocation of economic and social life due to flooding has been significant.
On 1st March 2024, Ward Councillor Dan Hurcomb, the Severn Rivers Trust and Orleton parish councillors met to discuss this issue.
As the result a flood resilience scheme has been developed to address the three primary causes of flooding in the village:
- The first part of the scheme, which will reduce run-off from agricultural land above Orleton, is managed by the Severn Rivers Trust. It is supported by Herefordshire Council and funded by central government to the sum of £1.2m. This Natural Flood Management project is already in place and discussions have begun with local landowners about the grants, advice and financial support available to them. Such measures include: leaky-dams, under-cropping, meadows, hedging, ponds and scrapes, woodland planting and soil management, all of which are designed reduce the peak flows in Brimfield Brook during heavy rainfall and slow the rate at which surface water enters the watercourse above Orleton. Details of the full range of support available to landowners and farmers may be obtained from alison.wilkes@severnriverstrust.com
- The second part of the scheme seeks to deal with flood water when it does reach the village. This proposal is being developed by Orleton Parish Council in consultation with local landowners, the trustees of Orleton Recreation Association and Ward Councillor Dan Hurcomb. This will aim to capture surface water flooding on the B4361 and redirect this around the village using existing watercourses, ditches and revised and enlarged highway gratings at the Maidenhead junction. It is designed to reduce flood risk to property and highways and to reduce the need for road closure. The scheme will seek grant funding from Herefordshire Council and the active participation of the Highways Authority. We are very grateful for the key role County Cllr Dan Hurcomb has agreed to play in advancing this scheme at county level.
- The third part of the scheme will offer advice and support to landowners who need to maintain the brook downstream of Orleton. It follows a pilot project by the Environment Agency to develop and encourage ‘best practice’ in the maintenance and improvement of watercourses. This should increase the flow rate and capacity in this section of Brimfield Brook and the performance of highway drainage in the Kings Road.
The parish council believes that this package of measures represents a balanced and effective approach to reducing the frequency and severity of flooding in the village.
At its meeting on the 21st March, the parish council reviewed a proposal, developed by the Land Drainage Working Group, to deal with flooding at the Maidenhead junction. Full details of this proposal are available on this website, or may be obtained from the parish council Clerk.
A presentation on all three elements of Orleton Flood Management Scheme will be delivered as part of the annual Parish Meeting on 9th May 2024, held at the Village Hall, Millbrook Way, Orleton, SY8 4HW at 6.00pm. I hope you will be able to join us then.
Cllr Colin Mitchell
Chairman – Orleton Parish Council
3rd April 2024