April 2025
Flooding and Drainage update as at 16th April 2025.
Further to the April T&S Flooding and drainage update of 16th March.
As reported Network Rail’s contractor CML did not manage to clear the blockage via the steel shaft on the 13th March. NR have since confirmed that they have instructed CML to excavate the culvert between the tracks and the barrier arm to clear the blockage and install new liner. Closure will be required so date yet to be confirmed but we have been assured it will be done. The work carried out by CML over the weekend of 5th April was not the excavation work but a tidy up of the site with the removal of the steel shutters and the digger and dumper truck. I will post any updates on https://tallington.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
The 3 remaining blockages identified and marked up by Anglian water at the Mill Lane /Main Road junction, the Gables Main Road and in the second chamber in front of the Old Post Office are still yet to be cleared by AW.
LCC Highways with the help of the Welland and Deepings drainage board are awaiting the date of the closure from NR in order to plan works to clear the sections of open ditch alongside the A1175 towards West Deeping not yet cleared due to road sign obstructions and the volume of traffic. This will require a road lane closure. The installation of new silt collecting gullies on the Main Road by LCC will be rolled out this year after the rail crossing blockage and the AW blockages are cleared. A date is still to be confirmed with LCC to replace collapsed culvert under Casewick lane.
The priority for the Parish council is still to get the whole length of the existing surface water system cleared by AW in conjunction with LCC and NR and working as it should to take water out of the village providing the protection that was missing in January 2024. Water to the north of the village is still flowing away from the village through the cleared field culverts towards Barholm.
The EA have confirmed that the replacement heavy duty River flap is to be fitted in May. The supplier having incorrectly delivered the wrong one twice!
The section 19 report continues to be under review by LCC Floods and Water. The Parish Council has expressed serious concerns over omissions and mistakes highlighted back in December that have still to be corrected along with some confusion created since late December 24 through conflicting revisions of the 7 key recommendations in the report depending where online you read it and with a formal copy to the Parish council still awaited? Also, for the avoidance of doubt and contrary to certain rumours currently being spread in the village LCC Floods and Water have again confirmed to me that, and I quote “the report does not apportion blame or attribute any recommendations to any individuals. This is not the purpose of a Section 19 Investigation”.
The Parish council have through SKDC purchased a quantity of aqua sacs (as mentioned/ recommended in previous updates) to deploy in the event of a future flooding alert. I know many residents affected in January 24 have already purchased some. Aqua sacs are a more effective, easier to store and deploy flood defence option when compared to sandbags. They are flat packed in boxes which weigh only a few kilos per box and work by absorbing approximately 13 litres of flood water to inflate. They are non-hazardous waste suitable for disposal in an approved solid waste landfill. Used bag contents can also be dug into soil to improve moisture retention. The Parish council will also be making some of them available to properties who have been or could be affected by flood water. Please contact our parish clerk in the first instance at parishclerk.tallington@gmail.com. For further info on these bags see AET Flood Defence – AQUA-SAC® .
MAG meeting is on 24th April and 28th May 2025. The Parish council continues to work with all the agencies to achieve further repairs and improvements to better protect the village in the future.
Take care. Philip. Tallington Parish council as at 16th April 2025.