Flood Fightback: New Dam Plans Spark Local Debate
Residents and stakeholders are urged to check out the Environment Agency’s latest flood defence plans before a formal planning application is lodged.
Villages Ravaged by Repeated Floods
Coggeshall, Feering, and Kelvedon have been battered by serious flooding over the years. Major floods hit in October 2001, with further havoc in May 2012 and February 2014. Now, action is finally underway to stop history repeating itself.
Agency Teams Up with Quarry Firm for Solution
The Environment Agency has teamed up with Blackwater Aggregates to hatch a cost-effective plan. Their idea? Build an “on-line” dam across the River Blackwater, plus extend a storage area upstream near Coggeshall to hold floodwaters back.
Local Voices Heard—but Public Meetings Cancelled
Peta Denham, Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, said: “We’ve met with the local action group, Coggeshall Residents Against the Quarry (CRAQ), and MP Priti Patel to answer questions and keep everyone informed.”
She added, “We’ve also responded to queries from residents and encourage anyone interested to review the final designs before the plans go to the planning authority.”
Once submitted, Essex County Council’s Minerals and Planning Authority will consult parish councils and other bodies—giving locals a chance to have their say.
However, planned drop-in sessions in Coggeshall and Feering on 23 March and 3 April have been scrapped due to Covid-19 concerns, leaving residents to follow developments online.
