Leaky ponds venture is solution to wet problem

Jan 23 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

ONE of the most successful of the levy ideas has been the “leaky ponds” venture.

Seven of the ponds have been created at Belford in Northumberland to store water from rising streams during flood conditions, which is then slowly released through pipes.

A two-year £200,000 leaky pond scheme is planned to start at the end of this month at Hepscott, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

It was one of several communities, flooded in September 2008. Residents formed a flood action group and worked with the Environment Agency on funding for a scheme to reduce the impact of flooding on their village.

Mark Hazleton, of the Environment Agency’s flood management team, said: “The leaky pond system is a very simple idea that has worked very well in reducing the impact of flooding on properties in other communities such as Belford.”

Geoff Parker of the Hepscott Flood Action Group said: “We are very pleased to have been able to work closely with the Environment Agency to develop this scheme. We now wait for the work to be completed and the reassurance that threats of flooding to the village will be reduced. We would also thank all the landowners for their co-operation in making the scheme possible.”

The first site will be at Red House Farm in Hepscott, followed by Tramwell Farm. Five ponds are expected to be created in the area.

Powburn is a small community that also flooded in September 2008, and the Environment Agency is installing six leaky ponds at a cost of £80,000, and replacing a bridge with a ford.

The work is being delivered alongside the Hepscott project, to keep down the costs of mobilising equipment and labour. Works at Powburn have begun this week, and once complete, the contractors will be moving on to Hepscott.

Newcastle University is also a partner in the project, supplying advice and being responsible for monitoring work in the catchment. It pioneered the leaky pond approach in Belford and at its own Nafferton farm base.