Next stage of multi-million pound scheme to alleviate flooding in Basingstoke is underway

Hampshire County Council has awarded Mildren Construction Ltd the contract for the next stage of a scheme in Buckskin to alleviate the impact of flooding.

Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader of Hampshire County Council and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, said: “I am pleased that this important work is underway, which has been designed to reduce the impact of flooding to properties in the future. A great deal of collaborative work has been done by all the organisations involved since the winter of 2014, from designing a permanent scheme and securing funding for it, to clearing drains and ditches and setting up a local flood action group in the community.”

The £6.24 million flood alleviation scheme in Buckskin has so far seen improvements to ditches and culverts along Churchill Way West and Worting Road and the enhancement of ditches in Saunders Field to improve drainage of floodwater between Buckskin and the start of the River Loddon. This work was completed in April this year.

The next stage of works will see the installation of a bespoke pipe across the subway near McDonalds at the Leisure Park. This will connect drainage works undertaken previously.

The Subway works began in mid September and requires the closure of the entry slip road next to McDonalds for the duration of the works until December.

During construction, signs will be put in place to encourage the use of the main entrance to the Leisure Park.

Areas of Buckskin suffered some of the most extensive property flooding in Hampshire after intensive and prolonged rainfall during the winter of 2013/14. This overwhelmed the drainage system, including the public foul sewer network, and the County Council took steps to convene a multi-agency group to work together to carry out a programme of maintenance improvements while working on the design for a major flood mitigation scheme.

This was coordinated and led by Hampshire County Council, and included representatives from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Sovereign Housing, South East Water and Thames Water.

For more information on the scheme please visit the web pages:
https://www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/environment/flooding/strategies/scheme-buckskin

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