Meeting on Perry Barr and Witton Scheme Set for Next Week

Environment Agency staff will be setting up a stall near the Forge Mill Farm car park, West Bromwich, on 9 August, from 1pm to 4pm, to talk to local residents and visitors about the progress being made on the Perry Barr and Witton Flood Risk Management Scheme.

The completed scheme will reduce flood risk for 1,400 properties in the area, said the Agency.

Rachel Kelly, Environment Agency Project Manager for the Scheme, said: “This is a great opportunity to find out more about what we’ve been doing so far and we have planned for the coming months.

“Come and hear more about the scheme, including an additional river crossing providing a circular walking route and environmental enhancements, such as the creation of wet woodland, crassula management (in conjunction with RSPB), tree planting, tree and hedgerow management and creation of new habitats in areas where we are taking material to build the embankment.”

The main aspects of this phase include the building of a new embankment, installation of the river outlet and temporarily re-diverting the river.

The scheme, costing just over £32 million, is part of the Environment Agency’s program of £2.6 billion investment into flood defenses across the country. The scheme was made possible through funding contributions from Birmingham City Council, Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, Arts Council and crowd-funding.