A £3million project to stop the River Roding from flooding is gathering pace – as stormy weather turns attention to what would happen if it burst its banks again.
Redbridge Council’s flood-relief plans involve placing pumps at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout in South Woodford and at Winn Brook, which runs next to Broadmead playing fields in Woodford Green.
These would pump away the excess water running off the road.
The project would also see an area created to hold excess water east of Chigwell Road, near the M11 bridge.
Cllr Ian Bond said: “We are expecting final agreement with the Environment Agency in April, so 12 months following we would expect a lot of the work to be done.
“The Environment Agency agreed it was a priority project and the council put some money back towards it. This has helped to get the scheme off the ground.
“After formal agreement, we will have a much better idea of when [it will happen].”
A spokesman for the agency said it now has a detailed model of the area around the river that is being used to predict the level of flooding that Woodford Green and nearby districts would suffer during storms.
After carrying out these investigations, the agency will ask the public for input.
Resident Laura Brookes, of Woodford Bridge, said: “I have no idea whether the study will help solve the problem, but if Redbridge Council spends our money on flood defences, there will be less available for other requirements.”
Maria Johnson, of Chigwell Road, added: “I guess we have to put our trust in that they know what they are doing. Since 2000 more or less nothing’s happened, but that is fine if the solution is in sight.
“It would be good to have full confidence that what’s being proposed will reduce our risk significantly, so we can get on with our lives and enjoy the river.
“It should be something to be proud of.”
• Do you live near the River Roding? Do you think the planned flood defences will do the job? Email bethany.wyatt@archant.co.uk, tweet us @IlfordRecorder, or visit our Facebook page – just search Ilford Recorder.
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