February 2025
Flooding and Drainage update as at 17th February 2025.
Due to the amount of work planned following the Jan 8th MAG meeting it was agreed that the next MAG meeting would not be till the 11th March with full agency reports then.
In the meantime, as agreed Network Rail’s contractor arrived on site to start to clear the 10-metre blockage on the village side at the crossing w/e 25th January 2025 sinking a temporary steel shaft to expose the sand gravel, dry stone wall surface water drain that passes, it now transpires directly under a crossing arm barrier foundation! I was advised that whilst the contractor had established a flow, they would need to return with more equipment to clear completely. This work would require a Main Road and crossing closure to complete. To progress things more quickly Michael Thurlby agreed to allow them access over his land to progress the clearance over the half term week commencing 17th February so a crossing/road closure would not be required. Please note as this report is written on the 17th February, I am unable to report further as to the successful completion or not of the work. I will however add an update to the Parish Council website as and when the work is completed. https://tallington.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
LCC Highways and the Welland and Deepings drainage board still need to clear the sections of open ditch towards West Deeping that the land owners were unable to fully clear before Xmas due to road sign obstructions and the volume of traffic. This will most likely entail a road lane closure.
The 2 major remaining blockages identified and marked up by Anglian water near to Barn House and the Gables on the Main Road plus the clearance of some collapsed dry-stone walling blocks identified back in March 24 when the second chamber in front of the Old Post Office was cleared of 2/3 ft of silt are yet to be cleared by AW.
On the 20th and 21st January LCC Highways contractors jetted the culverts under the St Lawrence Way Road and covered dykes along and under Casewick Lane. However, there is evidence of a partial collapse were the dyke goes under Casewick lane before heading across Casewick fields. LCC have agreed to look at replacing the damaged old drystone wall culvert with a new plastic culvert. Water is though flowing under the road at the present time. The junction manhole has now been fully cleaned and emptied of years of leaves and tree roots next to the notice board and it is now able to function as designed allowing overflow water from Hawthorne Lodge dyke and the St Lawrence way road drains and open dyke past an emergency gate flap in the manhole into the dyke going down Casewick Lane. Will Thurlby has removed some of the self-set trees that were covering the entrances/exits to the culverts under the road. Steve Butler and I managed to create a gulley linking the two culvert openings pending Rob Golland being able to remove further soil now the trees have been removed. Once the level is lowered further, we plan to put mesh over the openings to stop the leaves blocking the overflow manhole again in the future.
The EA large pump for the river bridge remains on standby if and when needed.
The replacement River flap still pending appropriate weather conditions and levels.
Take care. Philip. Tallington Parish council as at 17th February 2025.