Retford Flooding Information Page
Overview
Retford Beck Flooding Information Page
This page acts a specific information page for information on flooding and action taking place in Retford and the surrounding area. This site will be updated regularly.
Contents
Latest Updates
Flood History
Scheme History
EA and Partner Ongoing and Future Work
Retford Map Extent
Recent Operational Response
General Bassetlaw Information Pages
Further Questions
Latest Updates
Culvert De-silting
CCTV inspections of the culverted watercourses within the Retford Beck area have shown that there is a need to undertake desilts and/or blockage removals. Both works have been undertaken by AMCO Giffen on behalf of the Environment Agency and requires specialist sub-contractors who will desilt and survey the culverts (Intelligent Drainage Solutions Ltd).
CCTV culvert inspection and reporting requirements
The contractor provides a CCTV gang working on site including pan and tilt survey units and electro-location equipment for the identification of defects, connections, and the location of changes in direction along the survey route.
Desilt/ blockage removal requirements
The work includes cleansing and deep suction desilting works which will help clear tonnes of silt and debris from within the culvert. The desilts/blockage removals will require specialist equipment such as water efficient recycling High Pressure Water Jets (HPWJ) units. These sustainable methods save an average of 210,000 gallons per month compared to conventional vehicles.
How the work will improve flood risk management
The desilting and blockage removals within the culverts will increase capacity and thus the conveyance of water. Currently, there are areas of debris and silt within the Retford Beck culvert system which may be contributing to conveyance issues.
Additionally, the work will allow us to gain crucial data and understanding of the culverts condition and structural integrity, resulting in careful planning and preparation of future improvement works.
Examples of the data include; measurements, connection points, defects, changes in material/shape/direction, buried services (utilities) and more.
New Flood Warning Service 2024
Retford Beck to receive a new Flood Warning Service in Winter 2024
Approximately 600 properties at risk of flooding from the Retford Beck will soon be able to register to receive flood warnings.
Flood warnings inform the public of an imminent risk of flooding to their home or business, and can be sent via phone call, text message or email. The warnings aim to give people time to prepare and respond in order to stay safe and protect their property. When receiving a flood warning, actions you should consider include moving belongings, family and pets off the ground or to safety, relocating your vehicle to higher ground and installing any property flood resilience measures you may have.
This service will be available from late November. More information will be published closer to the time, including details of how to register.
Flood History across Retford
Flooding from the Retford Beck is the main flood risk to properties upstream of the Chesterfield Canal, around the Blackstope Lane and Grove Lane areas of Retford. In recent years the area has been impacted by flooding with events occurring in 2000, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019 and most recently from Storm Babet in October 2023. Internal flooding to properties was not reported in the 2012, 2015 and 2018 however.
In July 2007, 100 properties were flooded in Retford from both the Retford Beck and the River Idle. 29 properties suffered from interior flooding during November 2019. The majority of properties were in the Blackstope Lane and Grove Lane area. The main cause was very intensive localised rainfall, causing surface water flooding and flooding from the Retford Beck.
Most recently, during Storm Babet in 2023 the River Idle and surface water flooded 125 properties in the Ordsall and Thrumpton area as well as critical infrastructure. The Carr Dyke, a watercourse managed by the Internal Drainage Board (IDB), flooded 23 properties due to possible interactions with the River Idle. The Retford Beck also flooded 22 properties internally and flooded 4 externally.
Street photograph of Grove Lane in the October 2023 flooding, Environment Agency 2023
Scheme History
Retford Beck
An initial assessment and Business Case for an upstream flood storage reservoir was developed by Bassetlaw District Council in 2018 and passed over to the EA in late 2019. The EA then continued to attempt a viable flood storage reservoir scheme for the Retford Beck.
At the flood risk information event held in November of 2022 at Retford Town Hall, EA staff shared that the reservoir scheme was becoming difficult to progress due to an increase in the overall costs. All EA schemes must follow the Treasury Green Book rules for investment, where an evaluation of cost against economic benefit is mandatory during the appraisal process.
Since the public event in November 2022, the economic assessment of the Retford Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme was updated and unfortunately, due to rising cost estimates, the total project cost outweighed the economic benefit of the proposed reservoir and made the scheme unviable.
EA and Partner Ongoing and Future Work
Retford Beck
Following the decision to no longer proceed with the reservoir Scheme, the EA and Partners have changed their focus and other works are being undertaken to manage flood risk from the Retford Beck.
Retford Beck Culvert renewal and replacement
The existing Retford Beck culverts beneath Blackstope Lane and Grove Lane are in poor condition. The fluvial capacity of the culverts is reduced by utility crossings in multiple locations. The EA are progressing a capital project to replace the culverts, restoring the asset condition and the ability to convey flows. Ahead of commissioning this work, fluvial modelling has been completed and demonstrates a positive change in flood risk. The EA are commissioning utility surveys which will be undertaken from 27 May 2024. Road closures will be in place along Grove Lane and Blackstope Lane during the surveys, which are expected to last for 3 weeks. The surveys will inform the design and business case. The current programme targets business case assurance in 2024 and, if assured, construction to start in 2025.
The EA are developing a Flood Warning Service for properties affected by the Retford Beck. This service will provide advanced warning when flooding is possible. The Flood Warning Service will use weather forecasts and live river level monitoring to trigger alerts and warnings. A new gauge is being installed this summer to Retford Beck North, and we expect the service to be ready by the end of 2024.
Idle
We are assessing high level options which could have the potential to alleviate flood risk from the River Idle. These will be economically analysed to understand whether there are any cost-beneficial options which can be delivered.
Carr Dyke
A meeting was held with the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) on the 28 March 2024 to discuss what flood alleviation measures may be viable to alleviate flooding to the properties on Darrel Road. A list of potential EA options has now been agreed. However, to understand whether these options will be technically feasible, and will provide the required flood risk benefit, we must first assess them using hydraulic modelling.
The Carr Dyke is the responsibility of the IDB and its function is to convey land drainage run-off from the fi eld adjacent to it. However, when the River Idle is in flood, the flows from the river overwhelm it and the surrounding area. Due to these interactions of the Carr Dyke with the River Idle we are working in close partnership with the IDB to investigate what options can be developed and progressed to address the flooding at this location. The IDB are currently considering what options they can propose in the context of the longer-term management of the River Idle.
A meeting was held with the IDB on the 28 March 2024 to discuss what flood alleviation measures may be viable to alleviate flooding to the properties on Darrel Road. A list of potential options has been agreed. However, to understand whether these options will be technically feasible, and will provide the required flood risk benefit, we must first assess them using hydraulic modelling.
The Carr Dyke in an Ordinary Watercourse and therefore was not included within the EA hydraulic model of the River Idle. To enable the testing of flood risk management options, the Carr Dyke was surveyed and added to the River Idle model in the summer of 2024. Once the resources are available to do so, the agreed options will tested and technical feasibility will be established. The feasibility will assess the economics to understand whether any of the options are viable, in line with the Defra Partnership Funding Rules.
Retford Map Extent
Geography of area
Map showing who looks after each of the watercourses across Retford
Retford sits in the low-lying River Idle valley, where the Idle flows through the town from south to north. Retford Beck is a tributary of the Idle and arises in the high ground to the east of Retford. Both the River Idle and the Retford Beck are designated Main River.
Annotated Aerial view of the lower Retford Beck catchment. Arup (2021).
East of Retford, the Retford Beck has two separate open channels. Each flow through farmland before entering the eastern outskirts of Retford at Grove Lane and Blackstope Lane. Each tributary flows in separate culverts beneath the Sheffield to Lincoln railway, followed by a short length of open channel. Flowing parallel to Grove and Blackstope Lane each respective channel re-enters culverts before combining upstream of the Chesterfield Canal, where the watercourse passes beneath the canal in a syphon. The Retford Beck remains in culvert beneath the town centre until it discharges into the River Idle.
Recent Operational Response
As a Category 1 responder the Environment Agency (EA) have a structured incident management plan, with duty staff available 24/7. Weather and environmental conditions are constantly monitored to support the preparedness of response and prioritisation of the most high risk communities.
The EA field team undertook proactive patrols checking all assets prior to the peak river level on the Idle. On the morning of Sunday 23rd October, two Severe Flood Warnings were issued for the River Idle at West Retford and Ordsall and the River Idle at Retford, Eaton and Gamston. These were removed on the Sunday afternoon. The EA coordinated with the Fire and Rescue service to evacuate 238 properties.
The EA responded to flood incidents on Grove Lane and Blackstope Lane during Storm Babet in October 2023 and Storm Henk in January 2024. Field staff used pumps on Grove Lane to increase the flow rate through the culverts to the Chesterfield Canal syphon. Due to the significant build-up of sediment in the syphon, this procedure was found to be less effective at draining the flood water.
The incident management plan for the Retford Beck was updated and during the Storm Henk event, the Beck was pumped directly into the Chesterfield Canal. This new system was more effective at managing the flows from the Grove Lane and Blackstope Lane catchment and no property flooding occurred.
The incident management plan is being further improved to address the northern arm of the Retford Beck on Blackstope Lane. The syphon under the Chesterfield Canal is also programmed for clearance works to restore the capacity during the summer of 2024.
General Bassetlaw Information Pages
This page provides information on flooding for Worksop specifically. To find out more information on flooding in Bassetlaw in general, please follow the links below:
We'd like to hear from you
Audiences
- Businesses
- Elected representatives, including MPs
- Local councils
- Local authorities
- District and parish councils
- Land owners
- RFCCs
- Elected representatives, including MPs
- Members of the public
- Community groups
- Flood action groups
- Environment Agency colleagues
- Lead Local Flood Authorities
- Local Risk Management Authorities
- Flood Resilience Forums
- Members of the public
Interests
- Flood management
- Specific projects, issues, or activity pages
Share
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook