Watercourse dredging part of studyto monitor impact on flooding risk

A MECHANICAL digger takes a bite out of Burstwick Drain as part of a national study into ways of reducing the risk of flooding.

The watercourse, near Hedon on the outskirts of Hull, is one of six across the country being cleared by the Environment Agency as part of a trial to discover how much regular maintenance can reduce the risk of flooding.

A month-long trial over a two-kilometre stretch of the drain will see vegetation cut back and silt being dredged.

The water flows before and after the work will be analysed alongside historical data including topographical surveys.

Project manager Phil Walker said: “We have looked closely at the environment of Burstwick Drain and surveyed the shape of the river channel down to the type of rocks, the vegetation and the wildlife living along the banks.

“Although the drain has been dredged in the past, the impact has not been systematically monitored but this trial will help us to determine if there is a noticeable difference.”

Last week residents claimed a boat being used to cut pockets of reeds along the banks was too small to have any effect in the time allowed. There have been repeated calls for more dredging in the area since the 2007 floods, but concerns about wildlife have held dredging projects back.