Work begins on Corbridge flood defence scheme following Storm Desmond
Northumberland County Council has started work on new flood prevention measures for Corbridge after the impact of Storm Desmond.
The council will be upgrading the surface water drainage system in and around Station Road and Tinklers Bank, where many houses were severely affected by flooding during Storm Desmond in December 2015.
A new highway drainage system will be built along Station Road and a new outfall will run through Tynedale Rugby Club, replacing the existing culvert which was badly damaged during Storm Desmond.
The works have been made possible by Tynedale Rugby Club allowing the council to take a new 1200mm pipe through the length of Tynedale Park with a new outfall into the River Tyne at the east end of the ground.
The work, which is expected to take up to four months, will mean some disruption to rugby, junior football and tennis activities at Tynedale Park.
Councillor Ian Swithenbank, cabinet member for Local Services with the County Council, said:
Neil Foster, chief executive at Tynedale Rugby Club, said:
The new pipe is not directly related to Environment Agency flood defences along the river but is being undertaken by Northumberland County Council with funding support from the Department for Transport, and is expected to address highway drainage issues in this area and prevent surface water from rising and posing a risk to homes in Station Road and The Stanners.
The pipe itself is expected to have a capacity of around 3500 cubic metres with a new outlet into the river at the far end minimising the risk of a backflow at times of more severe flooding.
The rainfall in Corbridge (5.76m) and Bywell (6.96m) were the highest levels since records began