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Over 拢3.7million has been spent boosting defences in Stokesley with the aim of managing the impacts of climate change and the flow of the River Leven through and around the town.

Work on the new defences has included:

• 皇冠体育app construction of a new upstream flow control structure. When water levels in the River Leven are high, the upstream structure will automatically divert flows down the flood diversion channel around Stokesley. 皇冠体育app new structure will also provide significantly improved fish passage and allows greater flows down the Leven into Stokesley, under normal water conditions, improving the River Leven鈥檚 health.
• A re-profiled flood diversion channel which is easier to maintain and has greater capacity to contain the flow of flood water, which is diverted from the Leven by the upstream flow control structure.
• 皇冠体育app construction of a new downstream flow control structure. 皇冠体育app new structure has side hung doors which close during high flows, stopping the Eller Beck flowing back up the Leven into Stokesley.
• River restoration on the Levenside, delivered in collaboration with the Tees Rivers Trust. 皇冠体育app works here include the installation of a new fish pass and deflectors to create different flow speeds and a more naturalised river.

皇冠体育app Environment Agency appointed Mott MacDonald and BAM Nuttall in a joint venture to design and build the scheme with construction starting in autumn 2020 and work completing in August 2022. 皇冠体育app scheme was officially opened on Friday 23rd September by Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond alongside representatives from the Environment Agency and Tees Rivers Trust.

Residents 鈥榳ill be reassured鈥�

Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond (North Yorkshire), said:

Many Stokesley residents and business will be reassured by this work which maintains and improves flood protection - saving many people from the heartache of dealing with the devastating impact flooding can have.

皇冠体育app environmental improvements are a welcome additional bonus. Levenside is a beautiful part of the town and this work only enhances its attraction. I鈥檇 also like to thank the many volunteers who helped with the river works.

Jamie Fletcher, the Environment Agency鈥檚 Flood Risk Operations Manager for the North East, said:

皇冠体育app community of Stokesley have seen first-hand how devastating flooding can be. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so pleased to see the completion of these vital defences ahead of winter.

This new 拢3.7 million investment will better protect 509 homes and businesses, giving peace of mind to residents for many years to come, while also bringing benefits for wildlife in the wider area. It is also a great聽example of how we work with partners to make communities more resilient to the escalating impacts of the climate emergency.

River 鈥榠s a great asset for the town鈥�

Ben Lamb, CEO at the Tees Rivers Trust said:

皇冠体育app Trust have been working in and around the Leven Catchment for 12 years and have talked with Stokesley residents and interest groups about improving the river through the town on many occasions. 皇冠体育apprefore, it has been a great opportunity to finally get in and give the river some TLC and make some improvements to flow, habitat and fish passage.

We had an enormous amount of help from volunteers who tirelessly shifted over 50 tons of gravel into the new meander area in town and enjoyed being treated to coffee and chips from neighbouring businesses in the heat! 皇冠体育app river is a great asset for the town, and we are getting regular reports of wildlife in and around the river since we completed the work.

皇冠体育app Stokesley scheme is just one of many across the North East that better protects properties and businesses as part of a 拢132million six year investment programme to create or improve flood and coastal defences in the region.

Last year鈥檚 record government investment announcement of 拢5.2 billion to better protect 336,000 properties across England by 2027 includes a further 拢193million investment in North East defences.