Experts see Barnard Castle high street as future flood risk area

BARNARD Castle has been one of the first towns in the North East to be earmarked for flood action as part of a new scheme.
Christopher Bond, from Northumbrian Water, revealed computer modelling had identified spots in the town as being at potential risk from surface water flooding.
He told members of Barnard Castle Town Council more of the group’s staff would be out and about surveying the town’s streets in the coming months.
“Higher rainfall over the past 10 or 15 years has greatly increased the amount of surface water getting into public sewerage systems,” said Mr Bond.
“There are a lot of areas at risk, if not now, then in five to 10 years’ time.”
Streets, including Marwood Drive, have borne the brunt of surface water flooding for many years.
A freak flash flood on Market Place in July 2012 also played a role in influencing Northumbrian Water’s early pinpointing of Barnard Castle.
“We know there isn’t a great issue with flooding but we have seen a lot of Youtube videos and the main street has been identified,” said Mr Bond.
“It’s about coming into Barnard Castle and making sure our information and models are right.”
Shops on the east of the high street were flooded two years later.
But Cllr John Yarker said the town was lucky it did not flood all that much given the consequences of climate change.
However, Cllr Frank Harrison went straight to what he saw as the cause.
“A lot of the problems with flooding in Barnard Castle is down to blocked drains,” he said. “We are lucky if they come around once a year to clear them – I see drains from one year to the next still blocked. It’s very rare – we get it once every six months – we need the road sweeper at this time of year when leaves are falling to keep gullies and drains clean.”
Mr Bond replied that road gullies were the responsibility of Durham County Council but he stressed there was room for his company and County Hall to work together on the problem.
“It’s a challenge we have faced for years,” he added.
“We want to raise awareness of this with the council and we can do our bit the best we can – we can work with you – there is no point in us coming in when there’s still an issue.”
Mr Bond warned how increasing pressure on water storage systems was taking its toll on urban areas adding that Northumbrian Water was keen to work with the public to gather local knowledge.
He did not reveal specific places earmarked for action yet but he hoped new scheme Rainwise would reduce the effects and causes of surface water flooding.
He added: “It’s about building relationships – rather than just turning up and installing a pipe we want to liaise with our partners and the Environment Agency and work together to come up with solutions and interventions.”