Spending to rise in bid to stop Ouseburn flooding

Jun 22 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

A total of £75,000 in levy money has been given to Newcastle and Gateshead councils through the CityFlood Project which will help experts to learn more about urban watercourses such as the Ouseburn and the River Team. They will also look at the impact the watercourses have on drains, and plan actions to manage surface water flooding.

The committee is also contributing up to £150,000 to Newcastle City Council to raise two bridges across the Ouseburn, which will help to reduce the risk of flooding to up to 30 properties.

This is in addition to £170,000 over two years, which will be spend addressing run-off from the Kingston Park estate and rural areas upstream of the A1, which will reduce river levels further downstream.

A total of £120,000 will also be spent over the next three years on the Environment Agency’s Living Waterways project which also involves Northumberland Wildlife Trust to reduce flood risk from urban streams in Newcastle and Gateshead by involving communities in their upkeep and improving natural habitats.

An important flood defence wall in Corbridge has also been given a makeover by the Environment Agency, to ensure it stays watertight.

The 400 metre-long wall is downstream from Corbridge Bridge, and helps to reduce the flood risk from the River Tyne to around 50 properties in the Station Road area.