Borough to receive funding to address flooding issues

Blackburn with Darwen Council working with its partner Capita, has secured over £200,000 from the Environment Agency to address flooding issues in the borough.

The £213,000 grant will be used to fund the following investigation works and some improvements:

• Integrated Modelling Works –  scheme to collate the information held on the various causes of flooding and look for better ways to tackle and prepare for it. The project will integrate the data held by the Council on surface water flooding with that held by the Environment Agency on River flooding and United Utilities’ sewer flooding information.

• Improvement works to drainage infrastructure in Shear Brow – Scheme to carry out work addressing the flooding affecting a number of properties in Shear Brow.  The work will include some landscaping, the installation of a new drainage network and changes to the gradients of footpaths.

• Investigation works in the Sunnyhurst ward – A detailed investigation and study to determine the best method to address the flooding related to a culvert which is causing an ongoing issue. The work will allow for a bid for future funding to carry out improvement works.

• Investigation work in Earcroft –  Investigation works in to the best method to reduce flooding contributed to by a culvert. The investigation work will then allow for a bid for future funding to carry out improvement works.

The  announcement follows the news last month that the Council received £ 50,000 to redirect the culvert that has been causing flooding on Livesey Branch Road.

Executive member for Regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Phil Riley, said:

This is a longstanding problem and one that we have been eager to address. Flooding and the misery it can cause is a major concern for some residents especially at this time of year. This funding will now help us to carry out improvement works in some areas and to begin the necessary task of investigating possible solutions in others.

Ian Richardson, Capita’s Partnership Director, said:

On behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Council we are delighted that our efforts to secure this vital funding from the Environment Agency was successful. The identified flood improvement schemes will go a long way to addressing the risk associated with flooding in Blackburn and Darwen.