£3m Truro flood protection scheme officially opened
3:00pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News
A recently completed flood prevention scheme in Truro has been officially opened this week.
The city's tidal defences have been replaced and strengthened as part of a £3 million project to protect more than 200 properties from flooding. The scheme has been funded by the Environment Agency and Cornwall Council as the harbour authority.
Work included a new wall being built at Lighterage Quay and low flood banks being raised in Boscawen Park on the opposite side of the Truro River the quay.
The defences were due to be opened by Truro and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton, Environment Agency chairman Lord Chris Smith and leader of Cornwall Council Alec Robertson. Mrs Newton said: “The new defences have transformed the quay and will be a real asset for the city. Everyone has worked fantastically hard alongside Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency to bring this to fruition.”
She said very bad flooding in the city in 1988 had had “a terrible effect” on businesses and homes in this area, adding: “It was essential that this important work was carried out so that we can try to avoid the worst effects of extreme high tides which we might have in the future.”
Lighterage Quay, that forms part of Truro's tidal defences, required refurbishing because sheet piles there had corroded badly. As well as the installation of a new capping beam to tie the new wall into the existing quay, a steel pile quay wall has been built in front of the existing wall. The scheme has also raised low spots along the flood bank in Boscawen Park to bring it back up to the level it was when first built about 15 years ago.
Chairman of the Environment Agency Lord Smith said: “The centre of Truro was at risk of flooding both from the high tides and heavy rain. This scheme will ensure that we continue to provide protection for Truro, but is also capable of being adapted in the future to deal with the effects of climate change and maintain people's quality of life.”
