newsletter
June 2009
Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme
Pound Lane, Firview Close and Gossmore Lane areas
This newsletter gives an update about the proposed flood alleviation scheme for Marlow. It
also gives information about a public exhibition you are invited to attend on Wednesday 8
July 2009 (see reverse).
The Environment Agency’s role in
flood risk management
We are the leading public body
for protecting and improving
the environment in England and
Wales. We have an important role
in reducing the risk of flooding
from rivers and the sea. We aim to
reduce the risk to more people by
improving the quality of existing
structures and creating more
where appropriate.
Background
In November 2007 we held a
Pound Lane Area
Firview Close & Gossmore Lane Area
public exhibition for residents in
Compensation Area
the Pound Lane area of Marlow
This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey ® material by Halcrow on behalf of Environment Agency with the
permission of the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes
with information about a proposed
Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: 100026380
flood alleviation scheme. We held
a similar exhibition for residents
Nature of the problem
Whilst the highway drainage
in the Gossmore Lane / Firview
The areas of Pound Lane, in the
problems have been tackled by
Close area in February 2008. The
south west of Marlow, and Firview
Buckinghamshire County Council
details of these schemes have
Close / Gossmore Lane to the east
there is a need for new river flood
been developed during 2008. We
are low-lying and experience
defences and a means of reducing
have decided that these schemes
river and groundwater flooding.
the potential for groundwater
should be combined into a single
The area has a history of flood
flooding.
Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme.
related problems including:
The combined scheme can be
• Poor highway drainage.
Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme
delivered more cost effectively
Public Exhibition
and with less overall disruption to
• Flooding of properties
residents.
from the River Thames
8 July 2009
• Flooding of gardens and
property as result of the high
Court Garden Leisure Complex
water table.
1
Environment Agency Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme
www.Environment-Agency.gov.uk
Option development
groundwater levels by pumping
scheme is being prepared to
We developed a range of flood
groundwater to the River Thames.
accompany this application.
risk management solutions by
considering all consultation
In addition to these flood defence
Subject to gaining all relevant
responses received from various
works, flood water storage areas
approvals, including the
organisations and the local
will be provided on part of Marlow
necessary land agreements we are
community. The options were
Sports Club and on agricultural
aiming to construct the Marlow
assessed against the following
land on Lower Pound Lane. These
Flood Alleviation scheme in 2010.
criteria:
will consist of lowered areas to
store flood water from the River
Public exhibition
• The impact on the environment
Thames, to ensure that flooding is
The Environment Agency is inviting
and local community;
not made worse downstream as a
you to attend a public exhibition.
• How it could be built;
result of the scheme.
• Cost effectiveness; and
It will provide you with an
• How effective it would be in the
Additional improvements
opportunity to find out more
future.
This scheme also provides
information about the flood
significant opportunities for wider
alleviation scheme and how it
Marlow flood alleviation scheme
benefits, including:
affects you.
The preferred flood risk
management solution is to reduce
• New habitat creation in
You will also be able to meet the
the risk of flooding in the Pound
conjunction with the flood
project team.
Lane, Firview Close and Gossmore
storage areas;
Lane areas to a 1 in 100 chance of
• Landscape and footpath
Drop-In Session on the
flooding in any one year by:
improvements;
Marlow Flood Alleviation
• Improved playing fields at
Scheme
• Constructing flood walls and
Gossmore Lane.
bunds to the south of properties
General Higginson Room,
in both the Pound Lane and
Changes made during 2008
Firview Close areas. Flood walls
• We have combined the Pound
Court Garden Leisure
will be brick clad to improve visual
Lane and Firview Close Flood
Complex, Pound Lane,
appearance whilst bunds will be
Alleviation Schemes;
Marlow, SL7 2AE
low grass banks with clay cores.
• We have proposed an additional
• Raising the playing field at
flood storage area at Lower
On Wednesday 8 July 2009
Gossmore Lane over a low
Pound Lane;
permeability layer to reduce the
• We have proposed
From 2.30 until 7.30 pm
potential inflow of flood water to
improvements to the playing
the ground;
fields at Gossmore Lane;
• Raising the north end of
• We have changed the position of
If you have any feedback or
Gossmore Lane, near the
some boreholes;
would like further information
pedestrian rail crossing, to
• We will be re-using the excavated
please contact:
prevent flooding through the
soil from Pound Lane to construct
A404 viaduct;
bunds at the Firview Close site.
David Swann
• Installing a headwal with a
Project Manager
flap-valve on the drainage ditch
More information about these
david.swann@environment-
adjacent to the A404 embankment
changes will be available at our
agency.gov.uk
to prevent floodwater flowing back
exhibition on 8th July.
up the channel;
01276 454468
• Installing a series of boreholes
The next stage
at the rear of properties on
The intention is to submit a
Environment Agency
Pound Lane, at Marlow Sports
planning application for the
Swift House
Club, and around the playing
scheme in Summer 2009. An
Frimley Business Park
field at Gossmore Lane.
Environmental Report that
Camberley
This will lower abnormally high
describes all the impacts of the
Surrey GU16 7SQ
2
Environment Agency Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme
www.Environment-Agency.gov.uk
