Introduction
The River Irwell at Kearsley, Flood Risk Management Scheme (FRMS) aims to reduce the flood risk to over 80 homes from the River Irwell at Kearsley. Key areas include Prestolee and Stoneclough.
The villages of Prestolee and Stoneclough are part of the suburban area of Kearsley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester. Both areas sit on the banks of the River Irwell just downstream of the confluence between the River Irwell and the River Croal.
The Environment Agency (EA) will be working in partnership with Bolton Council to understand how best to manage flood risk, with potential funding contributions coming from The North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) and Department for Education.
Scheme Overview
There are a number of potential flood risk measures that have been considered as the EA develop a preferred option for the River Irwell at Kearsley FRMS.
These Include:
- Linear Defences
- Flood Storage
- Temporary/Demountable Defences
- Natural Flood Management
The EA are currently developing two options alongside our design team and with the contractor to understand design feasibility, constructability, risks, and costs. These options are being modelled in line with the EA’s climate change guidance. It is critical that they undertake this work in order to mitigate (as far as reasonably practicable) against future challenges during construction to better understand any funding gaps.
In developing the proposals, they will look to minimise the carbon emission of their work to support EA climate change aspirations and objectives.
Engineering challenges have resulted in programme delays. These include:
- Difficult ground conditions (e.g. shallow bedrock in the area and poor ground conditions)
- Proximity of properties to the top of the bank restricting access for construction
- Evaluating the impact of the construction process on nearby properties assessing the most appropriate way to mitigate against these impacts
- The scale of temporary works which would be required to ensure the scheme could be delivered safely for both contractors and residents.
The EA understand that this delay in programme may be a source of frustration to the local community, however, they would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that a dedicated project team have been working hard in the background to identify a technically viable option.
Funding
The funding from central government for managing flood risk in England is known as ‘FCRM Grant in Aid’. This will be the primary source of funding for the project; however, the EA are also actively working with key partners including the Department of Education, the Northwest Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and other bodies to identify other potential funding streams for this Scheme.
£2.3 million in contributions have been indicatively agreed, should a deliverable scheme be identified.
Latest Newsletters and Updates
The Environment Agency River Irwell at Kearsley project team attended the North West Regional Flood and Coastal committee, to present the River Irwell at Kearsley Flood Risk Management Scheme and to seek additional funding. They are pleased to confirm the additional funding of £2.4 million was approved.
Whilst this is positive news the figures quoted in the Bolton News were high level indicative costs, which could have the potential to increase as we work through the costings and programme further. The project team continue to move forward to finalise costings of the scheme over the next several weeks. Alongside this the Environment Agency team continue to work hard to gain further funding from additional sources as they still have a significant funding gap. As you will be aware funding isn’t the only challenge at the site. As they move through the project, they continue to investigate buildability, viability and planning constraints further, and the Environment Agency want to assure you the project team continue to focus on these issues.
Once they have a clearer picture on the above, they plan to hold a community drop-in around springtime.
The Environment Agency Project Team visited the investigation works being carried out at Kearsley on the 2nd August 2023.
All of the soil nails have now been installed and grouted. Once the grout has cured, contractors will begin pull out tests. The results from these tests will provide vital information on whether the soil nails can provide enough bond strength to help ensure stability of the riverbank.
Contractors are hopefully that all the tests can be carried out over the coming days allowing them to finish on site next week.
Once all investigatory works have been completed, the results will be analysed by the Environment Agency’s design consultants who can advise on what the results mean for the current option being considered. The Environment Agency will then organise a community drop-in to discuss the results.
The Environment Agency Project Team want to thank the community for your co-operation during these works.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact floodresiliencegmmc@environment-agency.gov.uk and a member of the project team will get back to you.
Installed Soil Nails
Installed Soil Nails
Installed Soil Nails
Kearsley Investigations Update – 27/07/2023
Due to the challenging ground conditions and the stability of the bank at Kearsley, the Environment Agency project team are currently investigating a design option that involves a combination of methods. For the left bank, this option would include a flood wall at the top of the bank, as well as soil nails and rock bags to help provide bank stability. This design option is being considered by specialist contractors who have expertise in building schemes in challenging conditions. Investigatory works need to be carried out to assess if this design option is viable. These tests are being carried out on the left bank only, where Riverside Drive is.
Site investigation works at Kearsley began on the 24th July 2023. The site investigation works involve further ground investigations and soil nail testing. The contractors have been working hard on these investigations and have been making great progress.
The ground investigations using cone parameter testing have been complete. This testing will provide accurate information on ground material.
The contractors have begun installing a selection of the soil nails with more soil nails yet to be installed. Pull out tests on the soil nails will be carried out next week. The results from these tests will provide vital information on whether the soil nails can provide enough bond strength to help ensure stability of the riverbank.
Once all investigatory works have been completed, the results will be analysed by the Environment Agency’s design consultants who can advise on what the results mean for the current option being considered. The Environment Agency will then organise a community drop-in to discuss the results.
The Environment Agency Project Team want to thank the community for your co-operation during these works.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact floodresiliencegmmc@environment-agency.gov.uk and a member of the project team will get back to you.
Surveying the bank equipment
Machinery to install soil nails
Installed Soil Nails
