Work begins on South Ferriby flood defences

First spade in the ground signals start of new £12 million flood-defence scheme on the Humber

THE first spade has been driven into the ground in South Ferriby, North Lincolnshire, to start work on the new flood defences on the south Humber bank.

Councillor Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, local MP Andrew Percy, local councilors and representatives of the Environment Agency, CEMEX and contractors JN Bentley met at CEMEX’s South Ferriby cement plant site to signal the start of the Environment Agency’s £12 million scheme.

The plan is to build a new, impermeable flood embankment west of the CEMEX cement plant on Sluice Road, South Ferriby, and make improvements to the north of the A1077 where the embankment will be raised. New brick-clad walls will also be built around Ferriby Sluice.

‘We are delighted to be contributing building materials to construct the new flood defences,’ commented CEMEX plant director Piotr Klepak. ‘In December 2013, floods devastated the CEMEX plant putting it out of production for more than 12 months and causing immense damage to local homes and businesses.

‘It was estimated that more than £50 million worth of damage was caused. But more than the damage itself, the local community, of which we are part, live in fear of a similar event happening again. With the new flood defences, we will all have peace of mind,’

Mike Dugher, deputy director at the Environment Agency, said: ‘After many years of hard work with our partners, we’re pleased to mark the start of construction on a flood defence that will help protect around 150 homes plus the local industry, agriculture, infrastructure and economy. We expect this much-anticipated £12 million scheme to be completed by 2021.’