information from the Environment Agency  September 2022

Costs of Channel Clearance Works
  • In February 2022, the EA cleared vegetation between the two bridges at a cost of £72,000
  • Currently the EA are on site clearing vegetation downstream of the Illings Lane bridge which they estimate at £92,000
  • Therefore, the EA will have spent £164,000 and a number of weeks on site this year clearing vegetation. This is a good level of investment but underlines the scale of works required if maintenance is not undertaken for a number of years.

Future Annual Maintenance Plan
To ensure the works this year are maintained, the EA have committed to the following between Bridge Road and approx 800m downstream of Illings Lane bridge in future years:
  • Weed spraying twice a year
  • Grass cut on accessible channel sides once a year
  • Annual conveyance check including removal of blockages and new tree growth, ideally before Christmas
What's not currently planned
  • The EA have no plans to change the profile of the channel which may possibly further improve conveyance. I have requested modelling evidence to suggest whether reprofiling of the channel could lead to any material drop in peak water levels and am awaiting results.
I had in mind to apply for funding from Cambridgeshire County Council to develop a long term plan to reprofile the channel which would improve conveyance and provide a more natural looking channel. However, the works would cost more than the funding available and so I've shelved this plan for now.

​Broughton Flood Action Group has been working with the Environment Agency to prepare for the upcoming works to the brook as summarised in this leaflet. This is a welcome step towards better ongoing maintenance of the brook, and a result of the investigation that Cambridge County Council led into the flooding in December 2020. Please contact Dave Cobby (davemcobby@gmail.com; 07493 011907) if you want any further information.