EA Winnersh Project
Flood Protection for a
Residential Area
Year: 2011
Area to
benefit: Winnersh,
Berkshire
Protection
offered for: 48
Protection
accepted for: 35 (72%)
Source of funding: Environment
Agency (Thames Region)
Extent of protection: Doors,
windows, airbricks
Duration of project: 6
weeks
Overview of Community Flooding
As part of the
Winnersh Household Level Flood Mitigation Scheme, funded by the Environment
Agency, some 48 residential properties were earmarked to be protected. The properties were located in the flood
plain of the River Loddon in an area which has experienced flooding
historically from primarily fluvial sources.
In the past the roads in which the properties were located have flooded
as a result of the River Loddon exceeding the channel capacity. A main river tributary of the River Thames,
the River Loddon is maintained by the Environment Agency. There is a flood warning service provided for
the residents of Winnersh by the Environment Agency, who have a river level
gauge on the River Loddon upstream at Arborfield Bridge and downstream at
Sindlesham Mill.
Flood History
Properties in
the village of Winnersh have experienced a long history of flooding, reflecting
their vulnerable position located on the floodplain of the River Loddon. Perhaps the most severe flooding in the past
forty years was in July 2007, when properties along Reading Road experienced
internal flooding, as well as flooding occurring along Cavendish Gardens,
Belvedere Walk and Riverdene Gardens. Another notable flood occurred in November
2000, however this mainly affected the local road network and no internal
flooding of properties occurred.
Tender Process
A tender document was drafted and a number of
companies invited to submit their tenders with a pre-requisite that they should
be able to install BSI Kitemark accredited products.
Prices were to be submitted for each of the
properties included in the scheme although their inclusion in the contract was
conditional on the return of an approval form signed by the property-owner.
The community itself was directly engaged by Floodguards at a public event at the local community centre. Tenders
were submitted by Four companies and were assessed on both quality and value, Floodguards tender was duly accepted.
Project History
Having
successfully tendered against 4 major competitors Floodguards was
awarded the contract to protect all of the properties within the Winnersh
Household Level Flood Mitigation Scheme.
Individual property surveys and recommendations had previously been
carried out by JBA Consulting and details of the mitigation measures required
for each property were passed to Floodguards. Floodguards carried out their
own installation surveys to ascertain the type and number of our products that
would be required in order to protect the properties. In all some 116 standard guards of varying
widths were utilised during the project and 4 bespoke guards had to be individually
manufactured.
Floodguards completed the contract within the allotted timescale of 6 weeks
from start to finish. This was achieved
because Floodguards allocated 5 teams of two installers per team to
install the mitigation products to the properties. On Average it took a team one and half days
to complete each property. However it
should be noted that some properties required longer to complete than others
and conversely some properties were completed in a shorter time span.
In addition to
the products manufactured and installed by Floodguards other
“ancillary” products were supplied to property owners, these included:
Submersible pumps and Toilet Pan Seals.
Project Reception
The project was
completed on time and within budgetary constraints and was received
particularly favourably by the residents whose properties were protected.
Sample Views of Residents:
Ms Lomax: “Thankfully, we have never had to use them
but gives us peace of mind – Floodguards did an excellent job”
Angie
Brown: “Staff have all been very
pleasant – the guards serve the purpose”
Mr
Klucklow: “The service from Floodguards
was quick, efficient and friendly, giving us peace of mind and security. It’s
been a learning experience, so if we are ever in this position again, we know
where to go. It has also been good to see that the E.A is doing something to
plan ahead.
C. Nemeth: “Don’t worry when the bad weather hits, gives
us peace of mind – Good workmanship, excellent customer service, informative
and helpful. James was extremely helpful.
Paul
Burnham: “Great to see the E.A investing
in taking care of society – Floodguards were very helpful and explained in
detail about the products, fitters were great and very professional.”