MANY of you will have heard about the plans for flooding works at Potwell Dyke, near the Minster Playing Fields, just off Church Street.
The process of putting a proposed scheme together in this area has included careful consideration of not only the buried archaeology, but also the setting of the Minster and preserving the views south from Church Street.
The proposal, which is subject to a planning application and approval, consists of a large bank, often referred to as a bund, which will be constructed to wrap around the edge of the open space to the rear of the properties on Church Street and Harvey’s Field.
One of the main benefits of the bund is that during times of exceptionally high river flow, flood water will be retained and then released into the dyke in a controlled manner once downstream flow levels have subsided.
This will help to avoid high volumes of water entering the watercourse all at once, which could then lead to the flooding of homes. In fact, it is estimated that the flood risk of over 100 properties downstream would be significantly reduced by the construction of the bund.
Retaining and enhancing the variety of habitats across the site has also been a key consideration when designing proposals for this area, and the bund will be seeded with wildflowers and sit within a framework of native plant-ing. Existing access will be maintained, as will the football pitches.
Before any works take place, Via East Midlands will be undertaking information conversations with organisations including Southwell Town Council, local sports clubs,
the Civic Society and archaeology and history groups to discuss the design progression and environmental assessment of the scheme.
Residents living adjacent to where the bund is proposed will also be contacted before a potential planning application is submitted later in the spring.
Plans of the proposals and a detailed map and site pictures will be included in the May issue. In the meantime more information can be found on the Southwell flood risk management scheme website pages. at www.bit.ly/3r8PeYQ
Alternatively, if you do not have access to the internet and would like a hard copy of the proposals, please contact Via East Midlands at:
Bilsthorpe Highways Depot, Bilsthorpe Business Park, Eakring Road, Bilsthorpe, Newark NG22 8ST.
Nottinghamshire County Council
