Penketh and Whittle Flood Risk Management Scheme

Overview

Update to scheme proposals   December 2020

Following our last consultation event in October 2018, The Environment Agency have been working with Warrington Borough Council to continue to develop our proposals to alleviate the risk of flooding from Penketh and Whittle Brooks.  We have considered and factored in a number of the issues raised by the local residents regarding the proposals and have also needed to ensure compliance with the latest government guidance relating to carbon emissions and environmental impacts.

We have now reconsidered and amended our proposals. Following further investigation we now propose to provide an overflow culvert on Penketh Brook to enable more water to flow underneath the railway and canal during times of peak flow. This proposal has the benefit of no longer requiring the transfer culvert between Penketh and Whittle Brook or the need for the defences proposed along Hall Nook. This solution would also remove the need for the loss of any existing trees or vegetation along Hall Nook which was a significant concern for some residents.

Generally, the revised option should have a lower carbon footprint; reduced construction cost; along with reduced impact to the local residents and environment.  The scheme will still reduce flood risk to less than a 1 in 75 annual chance of flooding.

The overflow culvert is proposed to run from Penketh Brook parallel to the railway for approximately 140 m before passing underneath it and then returning to Penketh Brook in an open water course. 

It is still proposed that tidal gates are provided on Whittle Brook as previously described along with some regrading work to the channel and banks on Whittle Brook. Improvements are still also proposed to be undertaken to the trash screen where Penketh Brook passes underneath Widnes Road.

It is proposed that the main works to construct the new culvert on Penketh Brook is undertaken from the fields south of the canal. As such the visibility and impact of the works on the local community will be significantly less than originally anticipated.  

We are intending to submit a planning application in the new year and commence construction in summer 2021.

We would welcome any comments you may have on the new proposals and would be happy to answer any queries you may have on the scheme.  The consultation will be open until the 15th January 2021.  If you have any specific questions or would like further information you can send these to the Flood Resilience team at FloodResilienceGMMC@environment-agency.gov.uk and they will respond to these for you.