Sustainable Recovery Pilot project

It is recognised it will take time to agree on and put in place a more long-term and resilient approach to managing flood risk in the project area. In the meantime, it’s important we’re ready for any flooding that might happen.

Last year, we started work on the Sustainable Recovery Pilot Contingency Plan, a short-term approach while we work on the bigger picture. Partners came together to share their plans, procedures and information on how they operate assets like pumps and penstocks.

We used this local knowledge to work out which actions work best, which ones to avoid, and where we need to think carefully. The aim is to make sure we’re all working together in the most effective way to support the community if flooding happens.

Recently teams from the Environment Agency and Witham Third District Internal Drainage Board have been trialling this plan ahead of the winter, running through a simulation as well as getting out on site to visit and learn about key locations.

The Sustainable Recovery Pilot project is a Fens 2100+ pilot project. Fens 2100+ is developing a Fens-wide approach to managing flood risk in a way that balances the needs of people, the environment and agriculture, both now and in the future.

Witham Third District Internal Drainage Board and Environment Agency staff at New Cut Drain penstock.