FLOOD protection measures for properties in Loftus, affected by flooding from Loftus Beck, have been approved as part of the ‘Loftus Property Flood Resilience Project’.
The project, a partnership between residents, the Environment Agency (EA) and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, is focussed on 22 properties to the east of Loftus around East Crescent, St Hilda’s Place and Arlington Street.
During heavy rainfall water levels in Loftus Beck can rise rapidly with the river occasionally spilling over and making the surface water flooding along Arlington Street and St Hilda’s Place a lot worse. Surface water and flood water from the beck then try re-joining Loftus Beck down Dam Street.
Properties affected include three on Arlington Street, six on St. Hilda's Place and 12 on East Crescent and the Arlington Hotel. Funding for the project has been provided by the Environment Agency levy funding to the value of £362,000.
Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Carl Quartermain, said:
“Flash flooding in parts of Loftus is an ongoing challenge and these flood mitigation measures will help protect vulnerable properties in the town against the impact of potential flooding in the future.
“This is a real step in the right direction for those residents in Loftus impacted by flooding. Everything has been approved including planning approval for the works to go ahead and the contractor is currently in the process of manufacturing the bespoke doors and gates and we are hopeful that they will be installed prior to Christmas.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to RCBC officers, the Environment Agency, and residents for their collaborative effort to see this project through. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge Northumbrian Water, our dedicated Ward Councillors, and Luke Myer MP for all their positive support and coordinated efforts in recent months with all the flooding events here and across East Cleveland. Together, we are working hard to ensure that our community is better protected and more resilient against future flood events."
Watertight International Ltd will be manufacturing and installing various flood alleviation measures including flood doors and barriers, flood air bricks, one way non return valves to private drainage networks as well as minor building works including pointing up and sealing brick and blockwork to make homes as flood reliant as possible. There will also be puddle pumps provided to high-risk residents to allow them to pump water away from their property.
The Council have provided sandbags to all affected areas in Loftus following recent flooding events and left sandbags on site for residents to collect. Drainage improvement works to the sewer network have also progressed with Northumbrian Water Ltd (NWL) to prevent properties flooding from the combined sewer network in the town. The EA have also made improvements to the early warning system for Loftus Beck.