Update on the Estuary Flood Defence Upgrades from the ESWMB
The East Suffolk Water Management Board (ESWMB) have issued a newsletter which spells out in some detail the progress on the upgrade to the estuary flood defences.
This newsletter summarises what the ESWMB has been doing over the last 6 months.
Flood Cell 6 Snape Maltings
The buildings here have Grade II* listed status, and this means any infrastructure work has to satisfy more complex planning requirements. So, working with Britten Pears Arts (BPA), the ESWMB has had to strike a balance between engineering and the significant heritage of the Snape Maltings buildings. BPA, working with ESWMB, are preparing a Listed Building consent application ready to submit, and once the engineering designs are agreed, a tendering process for subcontractors will begin.
Protecting the habitat and environment
The ESWMB has carried out a number of environmental surveys and collected a lot of data for all the flood cells in Phase 1 (the Upper Estuary). So the proposed works will have a minimal impact on the protected species that inhabit the estuary. In particular, data has been collected on water voles, the tiny narrow mouth whorl snail (Vertigo angustior) and surveys completed on breeding and wintering birds. All of these surveys are being shared with Natural England. Their agreement is needed so that the proposed upgrade to the flood defences keeps disturbance of these natural habitats to a minimum.
A water vole, photograph by Peter Trimming.
Other permits and designs
By the end of November, the ESWMB hopes to be ready to submit the Flood Risk Activity Permit to the Environment Agency (EA). This is a very important document and has to be approved before any engineering and construction work can begin. They have prepared outline designs for the work in Iken, Snape Village and Aldeburgh, and detailed designs for Snape Maltings will be finished by the end of July.
This enables consultation and discussions with owners of the land abutting the estuary walls.
Detailed design on the remaining flood cells will be completed by November.
Costs
Of course, the cost estimates that were used in the Outline Business Case (OBC), are going to be looked at again, though they did include significant sums for inflation and risk contingencies. The OBC is the mechanism by which the ESWMB asks for grant funding from Government.
This is the Phase 1 updated timetable:
Flood Risk Activity Permit approval received from the EA - Spring 2025
Water Vole Licence approval received from Natural England - Spring 2025
Snape Maltings construction work begins - Autumn 2025
The rest of Phase 1 construction work begins - Spring 2026
Phase 1 complete - Autumn 2028
The Lower Estuary, Phase 2
The ESWMB is working on the OBC for the Lower Estuary. Their plan is to submit this in 2025.
Throughout all this activity they are continuing to work with us (The AOET) as the charity responsible for raising money to bridge any funding gaps and the Alde and Ore Community Partnership which is the conduit for communication between ESWMB and each of the communities along the estuary.
Throughout all this activity they are continuing to work with us (The AOET) as the charity responsible for raising money to bridge any funding gaps and the Alde and Ore Community Partnership which is the conduit for communication between ESWMB and each of the communities along the estuary.
Aldeburgh to Orford Fundaising Flotilla
Sunday 28th July 2024, 8.30am
This Sunday, over 120 swimmers and paddlers will set off from Aldeburgh Yacht Club for our third fundraising flotilla.
We are delighted to have match-funding for this event. Now is the perfect time to donate and help to preserve, improve and protect our estuary.
Photograph by Carl Humphries.
Walking to Orford
If you would like to walk to Orford alongside the flotilla, we will have two river crossings from Aldeburgh Yacht Club at 8.15am and 8.45am. Donations are very welcome!
The walk is just under 5 miles (8 kilometres) along the river walls and will take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours to complete. If you are bringing a child of 12 and under, please make sure they have a lifejacket for the crossing.
Fair winds and following tides,
