Pang Valley Flood Forum Trustees Report to 31[st] March 2021
Trustees: Kay Lacey (chairman) Piers Allison Brian Connorton Peter McGeehin David Barlow Stephen Billyeald (treasurer)
Meetings:
PVFF held two online meetings via Microsoft Teams in the 12 month period (Jun 23 and Dec 7) attended by representatives from most of the ten villages as well as from the three agencies. Actions within the Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) were updated at each meeting. Details of the FRMP and associated actions can be found on the PVFF website www.foodalleviation.uk
Other Activities:
Covid 19 restrictions have impacted the activities of the Flood Forum, as with many other organisations. Work on our Defra Natural Flood Management project continued during this time however – see in more detail below.
The Chair attended two online user research sessions, conducted by Defra Digital, on behalf of the Flood Forum in Sept 2020 and in Jan 2021.
A number of articles on Flooding issues have also been publicised via the local Pangbourne Magazine.
Natural Flood Management Project (NFM):
In June 2018 PVFF was awarded a Partnership Grant of £50,000, sponsored by DEFRA and administered by the EA, to work with landowners to install Natural Flood Management interventions in strategic locations in the Pang valley. These interventions take the form of leaky barriers, woody debris, and holding ponds in the watercourses that flow into the River Pang so that, at times of heavy rainfall, some water will be held back for a short time thereby reducing the risk of the Pang overbanking and causing flooding. It is acknowledged that these interventions cannot eliminate the risk of property flooding, but they are expected to reduce the risk.
Construction of approx. 64 leaky woody dams and ancillary works with Englefield Estates Forestry has been completed on 2 watercourses. A pre and post installation Habitat Survey has also been completed by Sundew Ecology at one location and a further post installation survey will be undertaken at the second location next year. Reading University have installed flow monitoring equipment and time lapse cameras. We are pleased to confirm that the project has been completed on time and the final report will be submitted in the next couple of months.
Kay Lacey (Chairman) for and on behalf of the Trustees of PVFF 27[th] June 2021