Environment Agency: City flood defences are essential (From Chelmsford Weekly News)
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Environment Agency: City flood defences are essential
7:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in News
CHELMSFORD’S “unique geography” means the city needs new flood defences, according to Environment Agency experts.
Speaking during a Chelmsford Council planning committee meeting, agency representative Richard Houghton said the defences proposed for Margaretting were necessary in their eyes.
He added: “In Chelmsford, there is a unique geography with three rivers – the Chelmer, Can and Wid – in the area.
“There is a long history of flooding in the city. Although I think it is fair to say Chelmsford did escape flooding recently, this was as much down to luck as if weather systems down the North Sea had taken a different course, it would have been a different outcome.
“We cannot rely on luck.”
He went on to say a lot of options had been considered when deciding on the best defences for the future.
“We looked at a wide range of options,” Mr Houghton said.
“We really do consider what we were left with is the best solution.”
