Issued by the Environment Agency 08-Feb-2012:
The future's looking brighter for the River Darwen, as the Environment Agency is set to remove a 117 meter culvert from the river. The culvert is covering the river at Shorey Bank, Darwen and is preventing fish and other wildlife from flourishing.
The future's looking brighter for the River Darwen, as the Environment Agency is set to remove a 117 meter culvert from the river. The culvert is covering the river at Shorey Bank, Darwen and is preventing fish and other wildlife from flourishing.
The Environment Agency will remove the roof and uncover the river, before shaping the sides and bottom of the river to create habitat for wildlife and improve access to the river for maintenance and recreation.
Tony Callaghan, Environment Agency Project Manager, said: “Removing this culvert is one small step in our plans to transform more than 9,500 miles of rivers in England and Wales by 2015 – the equivalent of the distance between the UK and Australia. “Our rivers are the healthiest for 20 years, but we are doing even more to further improve water quality and biodiversity. This area of Darwen is home to a very rare plant called Narrow Small Reed which is only found at four sites in England. By removing the culvert it will give more space and light for this plant to flourish and will also allow brown trout to travel further up and down the river.”
Removing the culvert will also considerably reduce the risk of flooding to over 120 properties. In its current form, if the Shorey Bank culvert was to collapse, it would block the River Darwen and could cause flooding. Culverts are difficult to maintain and by removing it the Environment Agency is reducing its on going maintenance costs.
The improvement works will also help local people to access and enjoy the riverbank. A new circular footpath will be built through the woody area on opposite side of the river to the A666. Once complete people will be able to access the new path from the A666 by two new footbridges or from the footpaths running down the hill from Frederick Street and Nelson Street.
To find out if you are at risk and get early flood warnings, go to the Environment Agency’s website our website or call its Floodline on 0845 988 1188
The main building work began 23 January 2012 and will be finished in April 2012.
The future's looking brighter for the River Darwen, as the Environment Agency is set to remove a 117 meter culvert from the river. The culvert is covering the river at Shorey Bank, Darwen and is preventing fish and other wildlife from flourishing.
The future's looking brighter for the River Darwen, as the Environment Agency is set to remove a 117 meter culvert from the river. The culvert is covering the river at Shorey Bank, Darwen and is preventing fish and other wildlife from flourishing.
The Environment Agency will remove the roof and uncover the river, before shaping the sides and bottom of the river to create habitat for wildlife and improve access to the river for maintenance and recreation.
Tony Callaghan, Environment Agency Project Manager, said: “Removing this culvert is one small step in our plans to transform more than 9,500 miles of rivers in England and Wales by 2015 – the equivalent of the distance between the UK and Australia. “Our rivers are the healthiest for 20 years, but we are doing even more to further improve water quality and biodiversity. This area of Darwen is home to a very rare plant called Narrow Small Reed which is only found at four sites in England. By removing the culvert it will give more space and light for this plant to flourish and will also allow brown trout to travel further up and down the river.”
Removing the culvert will also considerably reduce the risk of flooding to over 120 properties. In its current form, if the Shorey Bank culvert was to collapse, it would block the River Darwen and could cause flooding. Culverts are difficult to maintain and by removing it the Environment Agency is reducing its on going maintenance costs.
The improvement works will also help local people to access and enjoy the riverbank. A new circular footpath will be built through the woody area on opposite side of the river to the A666. Once complete people will be able to access the new path from the A666 by two new footbridges or from the footpaths running down the hill from Frederick Street and Nelson Street.
To find out if you are at risk and get early flood warnings, go to the Environment Agency’s website our website or call its Floodline on 0845 988 1188
The main building work began 23 January 2012 and will be finished in April 2012.