FP McCann Box Culverts help protect Cumbrian town from flooding

Residents of Cumbrian town Wigton, will soon benefit from a reduced risk of flooding thanks to the Environment Agency, FP McCann and local businesses working together to supply and build a precast concrete culvert and flood storage basin.  The flood relief scheme involves building a 100m long embankment which will hold back water during a storm surge.

Wiza Beck, a tributary of the river Wampool has been subject to flooding for many years causing damage and disruption to local properties and businesses in Wigton. It has been estimated by the Environment Agency that the cost to the town could be £46 million over the next 100 years if no action is taken.  The flood storage basin created by the embankment, has been filled by culverting a short section of Wiza Beck.  FP McCann has supplied 1 metre box sections, 2.3m wide by 1.5m high and 2-piece inlet and outlet section walls, weighing 9.5 tonnes and 11.5 tonnes respectively.  The culvert will reduce the flow of the Beck and allow any excess water to be stored in the basin, increasing the town’s protection.

This new basin will be fitted with monitoring equipment which will enable the Environment Agency to give flood warnings as part of its Flood line Warnings Direct service.  The project has been funded by £200,000 from the region’s Local Levy fund. This has been boosted by £15,000 from local businesses together with land and material contributions to enable the construction of the basin.

Rachel Gerrard, Environment Agency Project Manager commented “This scheme to reduce flood risk to Wigton could not have gone ahead without Local Levy and the support of in-kind contributions from local businesses. We hope this work can be used as an example of how the Environment Agency and the community can work together to reduce flood risk.”

“The FP McCann team at Telford has worked closely with both the Environment Agency's designers and site construction personnel to establish the correct dimensions and capacity in the culvert and to put a delivery plan in place to ensure the just-in-time supply of units; a schedule completed in December."
FP McCann offers a bespoke box culvert design service from its Alfreton Office and Telford Precast factory.

Contact Steve Walker - swalker@fpmccann.co.uk - 01773 520273