Lucy Wood reports…
THE Environment Agency has given advance notice of work being undertaken to maintain areas of the riverbank at Louth Canal, in Lincolnshire, to mitigate flood risk.
Advisory signs have been posted along the path of the canal adjacent to the Riverhead in the Georgian market town, the location of both commercial and residential properties, down to the Louth Tilting Gate.
They read: “We are working to reduce flood risk in your local area. We reduce flood risk by constructing and maintaining flood defences, providing flood warning and advice, and responding to flood incidents. Here, we are maintaining flood defences by coppicing willows along the river embankment.
“Coppicing and grass-cutting ensures the root systems stabilise the banks. These banks are flood defences, helping prevent the river over-topping when river levels rise in a flood.
“If we do not coppice and grass-cut, the river will gradually wash away the defence the banks provide. Trees will topple over, damaging defences, and causing blockages downstream.”
It comes after heavy rainfall in early January saw flood alerts issued for the area as water levels in the River Lud and Waithe Beck rose; about 100 properties in the wider county fell victim to flooding. A weir not far from Louth Tilting Lock broke away and some bank erosion took place. The entirely volunteer-run Louth Navigation Trust, which exists to raise awareness of and enhance the Louth Navigation canal corridor, said the Environment Agency was aware.
