FLOODCOM Partner Meeting 5 & 6 March 2013 Chelmsford, Essex, UK Activity Report

Tuesday 5 March Steering Group Meeting On the 5th March, the steering group meeting was held at Anglia Ruskin University. The meeting was chaired by Keith Lawson and opened by Councillor John Jowers of Essex County Council. Cllr Jowers welcomes the partners to Chelmsford The partners discussed finances, communications and the project’s educational activity. The partners then gave presentations about progress at their individual sites. Carole Redt talks about the St Omer scheme Presentations from Antwerp and Breda: Dorien Verstraete presents to the partners Tom Rozendal explains the situation in Breda For full details of the meeting, please see the minutes. The meeting was followed by a walk of the areas in Chelmsford City centre that would be protected by the flood alleviation scheme. The walk concluded with a partner meal at Loch Fyne restaurant overlooking the river Chelmer.

Wednesday 6 March Partner Site Visit The Second day of the Steering Group Meeting was dedicated to the Chelmsford Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS). The meeting was held in Hylands House in Chelmsford. The partners learn about the Chelmsford scheme The partners outside Hylands House Matthew Perry the case officer for the planning application for the Margaretting site that forms the first phase of the Chelmsford FAS talked about the site and the first phase of the scheme. Stuart Graham then talked about the second phase. It was stressed that 1,200 residential and commercial properties are at risk of flooding. In Chelmsford, three rivers meet in a catchment area of 650km. Flood prevention will enable city centre regeneration for new houses and jobs and protect homes and businesses. In the Chelmsford City presentation it was explained how Chelmsford City floods and that the project is a partnership between Chelmsford City Council and the Environment Agency. Matthew Perry addresses the partners about the Margaretting site of the Chelmsford Flood Alleviation Scheme

The flood defences are seen as a catalyst for growth and improvement, including regeneration of derelict land for sustainable economic use and a new urban quarter. The Chelmsford FAS has 2 stages - Stage A, which includes flood defence at Chelmer Village and a water storage area at Margaretting. The Chelmer Village works are completed and planning permission has just been granted for the works at Margaretting. The second stage (B) includes building a series of city centre defences with a target of 2015 for construction. Partners travel to the Margaretting site Floodcom will help to deliver the works at the Margaretting site, including design and construction of the main embankment, removal of the defunct kerosene pipeline, improvements to St Peters Way and new river habitat. Some lessons learned so far from the work on the Chelmsford FAS were highlighted by the Chelmsford City Council representatives. It is essential to understand each others’ roles and responsibilities and to challenge each other. It is also important to find the right structures, processes and governance. Communication is also very important together with trust and the ability to try new ideas. Partners walk the Margaretting site The partner meeting concluded with a visit to the Margaretting site. Partners walked the site and were able to see the location of the proposed works and discuss the issues raised. Partners used the occasion to swap ideas and learn from each other’s experience.