Posted & filed under Community Resilience, Flood Mitigation, Flooding News, In The Press, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

Flood project paused over heritage impact fears – Greig Watson, BBC News, East Midlands, Published, 30 August 2025


The new flood barrier would have to be 60m (197ft) longer than originally planned

A question mark has been put over the future of a flood defence scheme in Nottinghamshire due to its potential impact on an archaeological area.
The county council’s plans to build a 250m (820ft) embankment, known as a bund, across parkland at Potwell Dyke near Southwell Minster, were approved in January.
But the authority has now said the bund, to be effective, would have to be 60m (197ft) longer, which could affect nearby Roman remains.
Officials said they were consulting with Historic England to understand whether the larger design was likely to get new planning consent, but they would “explore alternatives to the scheme if it cannot go ahead in the revised form”.

Nottingham Road, near the town’s leisure centre, flooded in October 2023
The scheme is designed to protect 36 properties and reduce the risk to more by holding back water from Potwell Dyke and allowing it to be released slowly.
Southwell suffers regular flooding, most notably in 2013 when 300 properties were affected, the council added.
The Potwell Dyke area contains remains of Roman structures, possibly associated with the nearby villa.
The new design would also be taller than the original 2.5m (8.2ft) and mean the closure of a popular local footpath, the authority confirmed.
A spokesman for the council said: “The Potwell Dyke scheme is one of a number of flooding measures which make up the Southwell Flood Alleviation Scheme, and the county council will continue to work closely with local partners to explore alternatives to the scheme if it cannot go ahead in the revised form.”

Southwell Flood Project – Clearance works

Posted & filed under Bramley Newspaper, Community Resilience, Flood Mitigation, Natural Flood Management, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

THE Southwell Flood Project includes the construction of an earth bund across Potwell Dyke, aligned in a west to east direction before extending southwards, and the provision of a control structure allowing the rate of water flow along the dyke to be restricted. This will ensure that homes downriver from the bund will be better… Read more »

Bramley article – March 2025 – Potwell Dyke allevation approved

Posted & filed under Bramley Newspaper, Community Resilience, Flood Mitigation, In The Press, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

Potwell Dyke flooding scheme approved It’s great news that the Potwell Dyke flood alleviation scheme has been approved after many years of planning and designing. The scheme will reduce flood risk to over 70 homes on Church Street, Easthorpe and downstream. During heavy rainfall, any overflow from the Potwell Dyke will be stored temporarily behind… Read more »

Potwell Dyke alleviation scheme – planning approved

Posted & filed under Community Resilience, Flood Mitigation, In The Press, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

Article in Newark Advertiser Flood defence to help protect 70 Southwell homes from flooding approved by Nottinghamshire County Council Up to 70 Southwell homes will get protection from flooding after plans to build a huge earth mound were approved. Nottinghamshire County Council’s planning committee met today (January 28) to discuss the plans. They involve creating… Read more »

Bramley news – Southwell Flood Mitigation drop in – Thursday 16th May – 14.00 to 18.00 – Southwell Library

Posted & filed under Bramley Newspaper, Community Resilience, Flood Mitigation, Planning, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

Representatives from Nottinghamshire County Council, VIA East Midlands Ltd and other key agencies will be present for a Southwell Community Flood Mitigation drop in session on Thursday 16th May at Southwell Library. There will be an overview of the projects that have been completed on flood risk management in Southwell since the flood event in… Read more »

Storm Babet October 2023 Section 19 Flood Report by Nottinghamshire County Council

Posted & filed under Community Resilience, Events, Flood Mitigation, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

Following the Storm on 20th October 2023 in which about 11 houses in Southwell were internally flooded, Nottinghamshire County Council as the Lead Flood Authority is required to produce a Section 19 report “The objective of this report is to investigate which Risk Management Authorities had relevant flood risk management functions during the flooding in… Read more »

DEFRA consultation on storm overflows

Posted & filed under Community Resilience, Potwell Dyke Flood Group, Watercourse Clearing.

Storm overflows are safety valves built into the combined sewer system to discharge excess sewage to rivers, lakes, or the sea when rainfall exceeds capacity. The deadline for comments is: 12th May 2022. The consultation website states: ā€˜Tackling storm overflows in England is a government priority. It is an issue which has received significant public… Read more »

Potwell Dyke attenuation scheme planning application

Posted & filed under Blog, Community Resilience, Flood Mitigation, In The Press, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

Newark Advertiser press release February 2022 Neil Clarke, Chairman of the Transport and Environment committee said: ā€œI am pleased to confirm that the proposed Potwell Dyke attenuation scheme planning application has now been submitted. ā€œIf approved, the scheme will go a long way to holding back water during flood conditions – something which is much… Read more »

Civic Society presents cheque

Posted & filed under Blog, Fundraising, In The Press, Potwell Dyke Flood Group.

A group dedicated to preserving Southwell presented a cheque to a group that is trying to protect the town from future flooding Southwell Civic Society presented Ā£1,153 raised at its annual garden party to Southwell Flood Forum on 20th September The money will go towards the community cost of providing flood mitigation measures for the… Read more »

East Midlands in Bloom 2014 – Judges Award for watercourse clearance

Posted & filed under Blog, Potwell Dyke Flood Group, Watercourse Clearing.

Being impressed with many areas of horticultural interest, the judges of East Midlands in Bloom 2014 awarded Southwell in Bloom with a Silver in the medium town category. A Judges Award was also presented to Southwell Flood Forum ā€œfor taking on such a complex projectā€ because one of the entries for work volunteers do within… Read more »