Flooding scheme cost £286,000

Thursday 9th July 2009, 6:00AM BST.

Similar flood barriers in Frankwell, Shrewsbury (Picture: Peter Shah) The cost of building flood defences to protect part of Shrewsbury was £286,000, it has been revealed.

The works at Wakeman School in the town are the second part of the Environment Agency’s Coleham Head flood alleviation scheme.

Phase one was completed at the start of this year when the EA carried out a trial of the new flood demountable barrier at Coleham Head.

EA team leader Anthony Crowther said at the time the scheme was “vital to minimise flood risk for many people living and working in the Coleham Head area and to help keep access routes open during future floods”.

The last part of the scheme relates to an area at the Wakeman School.

A spokeswoman from the EA said: “The works involve replacing the perimeter wall around the playground with a reinforced flood wall, with a small section of demountable defences. This will help defend Coleham Head and Abbey Foregate.”

The scheme has been funded by the developer of the former Shrewsbury Town Football Club Gaymeadows site.

The plans were welcomed yesterday by Wakeman School headteacher Karen Moore, who said the playground had been damaged by flood water in the past and if approved the defences would be put in place over the school summer holidays.

A decision is expected by August 26. The new wall at the Wakeman School along with the other defences will protect 88 properties.

The total cost of the scheme is £1.5 million.

View more: Shrewsbury news, Wakeman School news.