Work progresses on Burton’s £30 million flood defences

The Environment Agency is making good progress on the £30 million Burton-upon-Trent flood defence project.

According to the EA, a further section of the flood defence scheme has been opened to the public.

“Members of the public are now able to access the embankment between the Riverside Hotel and the edge of the golf course. The path through Toad Hole Nature Reserve has also been reopened,” the Environment Agency said in the release. “It is hoped to open the remainder of the section near the golf course by the end of the year.”

The whole project, which started in June 2019, is scheduled to finish next spring. The scheme will improve flood defences for over 4,500 homes and 1,000 businesses.

As reported, construction work is continuing throughout the latest national lockdown with Environment Agency staff and contractors following government guidelines.

The Burton scheme is part of the £2.6 billion being spent over 2015-21 across the country, delivering more than 1,500 projects to better protect 300,000 homes. This is on top of £1 billion by 2020 to maintain flood defences.