A new flood defence system has been completed to protect dozens of properties on the Aston Lodge estate.
The Aston Chase Flood Alleviation Scheme has been designed and built by Environment Agency workers after severe flooding following heavy rainfall in the summer of 2004.
The scheme, which has cost £400,000, protects 35 houses and a school in the Aston Lodge area. It consists of a 110m long x 4.5m high earth embankment dam with emergency spillway and includes the creation of wetland habitats, hedgerow and tree planting, as well as the diversion of field ditches.
The scheme has been built on land at Stone Park Farm, off Pingle Lane to the north of the Aston Lodge estate.
View Aston Chase Flood Alleviation scheme in a larger map
John Buckingham, Environment Agency area flood risk manager, said: “I am delighted this has been completed for the benefit of the Aston Lodge community. Having seen the misery and stress that flooding causes, this scheme – whilst not guaranteeing that flooding will be eliminated – will significantly reduce the risk of it happening in the future.”
Staffordshire County Councillor Mike Maryon, Cabinet member for highways and environment and the county council’s representative on the regional flood defence committee, said “This is a major investment that will have an extremely positive effect on the local community. It is incredibly stressful for people whose homes are damaged by flooding and this alleviation scheme will significantly reduce the risk of it happening in the future.”
The scheme for Aston Lodge was paid from a local levy fund which is administered by the flood defence committee. All local authorities in the Midlands contribute to this fund and Staffordshire County Council made a contribution of £280,000 this year.
A similar flood defence scheme was constructed in Yarnfield in 2008.
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