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Friday 20 Apr 2018

New flood alleviation scheme planned for Hele

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is planning to carry out a flood resilience project around Station Road in Hele. Flooding has been a long standing problem in the area and a scheme has been developed which will not only reduce the risk of flooding to the railway, but also to nearby homes and businesses.

Improving the resilience of the railway in the region will not only mean fewer trains are cancelled during extreme weather, but also that services can be back up and running at a quicker rate, improving reliability for passengers.

Subject to planning consent, the work is due to get underway this summer, and will take around six months to complete. Part of Station Road and the bridge leading to Devon Valley Mill will be replaced with new structures that will allow more water to pass through them. The project will also include changing the gradient of some of the land on the approach to the level crossing to provide better drainage. This will reduce the number of incidents of flooding and their severity, meaning less disruption for passengers and the local community.

Victoria Bradley, Network Rail’s project sponsor, said:  “This is an important project for Network Rail and along with our work at Cowley Bridge will mean less disruption for passengers in the future. In the case of Hele, our work will also have benefits for residents and local businesses.

“Subject to us gaining planning permission, there will be a six month road closure in place to allow us to reconstruct the road and work safely, while also keeping the community and other road users safe. The diversion is expected to be around five miles in length, with a provision put in place for pedestrians.”

The project is one of a number of schemes under the Department for Transport’s Flood Resilience Programme. This £26.5m programme was established after extreme weather in 2012 and 2014 caused extensive disruption to the rail network. The aim of the programme is to reduce the risk of flooding at key locations in the Thames Valley and south west and ensure that when flooding does occur, train services can be resumed at a quicker rate, reducing disruption for passengers.

Network Rail will be holding a drop-in meeting at the Crossways Tavern in Hele from 4pm to 7pm on 25 April to provide residents with further information on the project. Members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions.

Network Rail’s national helpline is available 24 hours a day for residents and passengers with any questions or concerns about this work on 03457 11 41 41.

More information about how flooding on the railways causes delays – and what we’re doing to reduce it – can be accessed here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/delays-explained/flooding/