Rugeley flood defence work costing £5m ‘will bring new jobs’
Hundreds of jobs could be created now that flood defence work is finished, it has been claimed.
A 350-metre long embankment has been installed in Rugeley over the last 12 months.
Officials from the Environment Agency, Cannock Chase District Council and the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership met at Rugeley Community Centre to officially declare the work by Hagley playing fields complete.
The cost of the project has soared from an estimated cost of £2 million to £5.2m.
The multi-million pound scheme involves building a 1,082ft-long and 9ft-high embankment along Western Springs Road to safeguard properties.
Environment Agency flood risk advisor Will Groves said the work will open up new land for development, creating as many as 330 jobs in the area.
The defences will protect 114 homes and 159 businesses from flooding when the Rising Brook overflows and the culvert at Rugeley becomes full.
Mr Groves said: “This is the culmination of a lot of great work from all of the partners involved and represents collaboration at its best.
“It has been difficult at times and we have seen the cost go up but the impact this will have on the community is exceptional.
“As the project progressed investigations revealed additional work was required, which could not be established at the start of the project, which isn’t unusual for this type of scheme.
“However, not only are homes and businesses going to be protected, but this
will have a major impact on growth for Rugeley.
“330 jobs could be created by the land freed up by the scheme as planning applications that would have fallen through due to environmental concerns over flood risks.”
A plaque commemorating the completion of the work was unveiled at yesterday’s ceremony, although some minor work will be needed in January to tidy up the site.
The work saw Hagley playing fields closed to the public.
The Environment Agency plans to re-seed the area in spring, with the playing fields reopening to the public towards the end of next year.
The exact date will depend on how well the grass grows back. Local councillors also attended the ceremony, with deputy leader of the district council, Gordon Alcott, saying: “This is a new year present to Rugeley and the surrounding area because it is going to have a really positive impact in terms of job creation in the future.
“Once one business takes advantage of the new freedom to develop nearby, I am sure others will follow suit.
“The work that has been done here is excellent and has been turned around pretty quickly when you consider the scale of the project.”
Mark Swain, team leader and flood risk manager with the Environmental Agency, helped oversee the project.
He said: “This is something that will have a long-term benefit for Rugeley, both in protecting homes and businesses from a flood risk and helping businesses to grow and jobs to be created.
“This is also something that will save money for local authorities because the cost of a flooding to this area would easily be at least five times as much as the £5.2m it has cost.
“I am particularly pleased at how well all of the different organisations have worked together on this.
“It makes it easier to plan big projects in the future because the personal links are there between the organisations.”
The work also affected access to a trail leading into Cannock Chase but last week An Environment Agency spokesman said: “During the work the Heritage Trail will be temporarily closed – at this stage it will be at least until the end of the year. But it will not be closed permanently.”
The trail is currently still closed.
