Final phase of Feniton Flood Alleviation scheme due to start

Work to complete the £6m flood alleviation scheme for Feniton will begin in the Autumn.

Phase 4 of the alleviation scheme is anticipated to take approximately 12 months to complete with the works mainly  taking place within fields around the village. While the work is ongoing, some road and public area closures will be necessary. All affected residents are being consulted and where necessary, special access provided. The first road closure will be in Feniton’s Ottery Road starting in November and into December, when closures in Green Lane and Wells Avenue will begin too.

The completed scheme will reduce the flood risk to 65 residential homes plus help prevent disruption to the primary school and local transport. 

East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) July Planning Committee [Agenda for Planning Committee on Tuesday, 16th July, 2024, 10.00 am - East Devon] gave a green light for the Feniton Flood Alleviation Scheme to be completed. EDDC entered into contract with principal contractor, Kier who have already undertaken preliminary works in and around the village. The Kier team will set-up in the dedicated compound on Green Lane in August, where the main works will commence mid-September.

Although flooding of Feniton dates back to the 1970s, in 2008, 60 properties in Feniton suffered flooding as the existing watercourse was unable to cope with the quantity of water during storm conditions. Since then there has been flooding of homes every two or three years.

Following the 2008 flood, East Devon District Council and its partner agencies the Environment Agency and Devon County Council agreed to develop a scheme to collect flood water from above the village and divert it via a 1050mm diameter pipe down through the village to supplement the capacity of the existing watercourse. In the north, a new inlet structure will collect flood flows from the hillside, taking them through the new culvert pipe, under the already completed railway crossing, known as Phase 3, and back into the watercourse south of the village.  This will complement the existing drainage system, protecting over 60 homes to a ‘1-in-100-year chance event’ standard from flooding. Downstream channel capacity has already been increased as part of Phases 1 and 2.

East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment, Cllr Geoff Jung said: “I am so pleased to be able to confirm the final phase of Feniton’s Flood Alleviation Scheme will be starting shortly.

"This project to help protect vulnerable properties from the threat of flooding has been a long time coming, and the  phase 4 final section  of the engineering  jigsaw will join the other 3 phases to complete these important works.

“Finally, we have all the necessary steps completed by working with the many stakeholders and regulatory bodies to ensure the delivery of a resilient flooding solution for the people of Feniton”.

EDDC's Feniton ward councillor, Cllr Alasdair Bruce, said: “The announcement of the start of this vital part of the flood alleviation scheme will come as very welcome news by the residents of Feniton. Whilst there is going to be a certain amount of  short-term local disruption, I know that the long-term security from future flooding will be worth the inconvenience.”

Feniton Parish Council’s Chairman, Cllr Martyn Smith, said: “Flooding has been on the Parish Council Agenda, every month for nearly two decades.  Having been involved with the original concept, walking the proposed route with the Environment Agency and our MP at the time, we have seen the project have its ups and downs.  It is of great credit to EDDC and its engineers that they have now taken the project to its final conclusion. It will be a massive relief to everyone in the village.”

Feniton Parish Council’s Cllr Jayne Blackmore, said: “As a flood warden and resident where there will be road closures, I can’t wait for work to begin. I am one of the many residents who were flooded and had to leave our homes for six months, so we are looking forward to the completion of the scheme. It will bring peace to my household, as I won’t have to get up in the middle of the night to raise the alarm, closing roads and distributing sandbags before a flooding risk.”

In 2022, the phase 3 work to install a new culvert pipe at the undertrack rail crossing was completed. The culvert diverts surface water from around the village to prevent flooding.

In 2016, the phase 2 work involved watercourse improvement work and Individual Property Protection (IPP) for three properties. New flood gates, flood walls and stop logs are now in place at these homes.

Work on Phase One which involved the construction of a length of new watercourse was completed in January 2016.

Photo: Left to right, back row: Cllr Peter Faithful (EDDC), Cllr Geoff Jung (EDDC), Cllr Paula Fernley (EDDC), Kelly Cowling (Kier), Neil Trimnell (Kier), Cllr Alasdair Bruce (EDDC). Front row: Tom Buxton-Smith (EDDC), Jayne Blackmore (Feniton Parish Council). Photo: East Devon District Council.