Weardale NFM Scheme on Display

The Environment Agency together with its partners will next month hold a series of events on the subject of Weardale Natural Flood Management (NFM) scheme.

The EA is working on the project with Natural England, Forestry Commission, Durham County Council and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership.

Currently, the project team is carrying out an assessment of NFM techniques that might help reduce flood risk in Weardale and takes in towns and villages including Stanhope, Westgate, Eastgate and Wolsingham.

A series of information events for communities is taking place in April to find out more about how a £2.1 million natural flood management project could reduce their risk of flooding.

Environment Agency Project Manager Kirsty Hardy said: “This is the first step in what is a pioneering project to explore and deliver natural flood management features to reduce flood risk, as well as enrich the landscape and habitat of what is a beautiful area of countryside.”

Hardy also added that this project is ultimately going to increase the understanding of the impact natural flood management can have on reducing flows along tributaries on the Upper River Wear.

All drop-in events take place between 2.30pm and 7pm on:

• 4 April – Westgate Village Hall, Front Street, Westgate, DL13 1RX;
• 5 April – Wearhead Village Hall, Wearhead, Bishop Auckland, DL13 1DY;
• 10 April – Cowshill Village Hall, Bishop Auckland, DL13 1DA;
• 11 April – Eastgate Village Hall, Eastgate, DL13 2HU;
• 12 April – Stanhope Community Association, Front Street, Stanhope, DL13 2NQ.

In March 2017 the Environment Agency announced £15 million of funding had been made available for NFM schemes nationally. The Weardale project will allow the Environment Agency to gather and understand evidence to support that natural flood management can play a role in reducing flood risk.