- Norfolk Broads Flooding.png (314.02 KiB) Viewed 30470 times
Engineering firm BAM Nuttall has applied to draw water from locations including Martham, St Benet's, Horsey, and Potter Heigham. The move is part of plans to reduce groundwater levels in nearby hamlets ahead of the construction of four new modern pumping stations, part of a wider project to improve flood resilience in the Upper Thurne area.
In 2023, this area suffered from extensive and severe flooding after one of the wettest winters on record; the damage to the homes and businesses in the area due to this flooding was devastating.
The licence application is to abstract water from the Broadland Rivers Chalk and Crag, and the abstracted water will be discharged to a drainage system.
The project is being undertaken by the Broads Internal Drainage Board through the employment of BAM Nuttall, an engineering group reputed for excellence in hydrological management. Significantly, one of the new Horsey pumping stations will be installed close to the iconic mill at Horsey.
A company spokesperson said, "The pumping stations are an integral part of an overall capital scheme to manage flood risk and water balance in the River Thurne catchment. This will prevent the permanent inundation of properties, infrastructure, and internationally and nationally designated habitats of environmental importance.
The IDB is replacing 13 ageing pumps which have been operational for over seven decades with advanced systems to increase efficiency and maintain consistent water levels. In total, there are stations in the areas of Brograve, Stubb, Catfield, Horse Fen, Horsey, Martham, Heigham Holmes, Potter Heigham, Repps Staithe, Somerton North, Somerton South, St Benet's, and Thurne-all of which play an important part in the project.
Flooding has become a critical issue for the people and businesses of the Upper Thurne, including the villages of Potter Heigham, Hickling, Martham, and Horsey.
Locals have been blaming sediment buildup in the lower River Bure at Great Yarmouth, for worsening flooding. Silting makes the river passage inadequate for drainage to the North Sea. It was claimed that 1.5 kilometres of the so-called "Bure Hump" had become clogged with silt, blocking the river's outflows to the sea.
An elaborate six-month dredging investigation for solutions, commissioned jointly by the Broads Authority and the Environment Agency looked into several remedies. The economic infeasibility, due to high estimates rising up to 4.6 million pounds with also accompanying environmental concerns, was what kept the Environment Agency away.
Some are also arguing the recent newly-built Herring Bridge, near the Yarmouth lowers it towards the estuary, and causes impingements of drains.
The general increase in sea-water levels and unpredictable weather conditions said to be due to climatic changes, have just exacerbated flooding challenges in the region.