Improvement work to prevent and alleviate surface water flooding during heavy rain is due to start in Swinbourne Close, a cul-de-sac in Old Catton on 18 September 2017.

The work will primarily involve the installation of a bank of underground aquacells (similar in design to milk crates) within the turning area of the close. These aquacells soak up and store rainwater and then slowly release it into the ground, which helps to prevent the ground and drains being inundated during heavy rain which in turn can lead to surface water flooding.

During the construction period vehicular access to the cul-de-sac will be restricted and residents and their visitors will need to make alternative arrangements for parking and deliveries during this time. This is due to the extensive excavation required and amount of construction vehicle traffic. It is anticipated that this work will take up to three weeks to complete and the contractor will make vehicular access available through the weekends if possible (5pm Friday to 7am Monday) in order to minimise disruption to residents. Letters have been delivered to all addresses affected and pedestrian access to all properties will be maintained throughout the works.

The County Council appreciates the inconvenience this may cause but this work is essential to minimise localised flooding issues in the area. The County Council thanks people for their patience while this drainage improvement work is carried out.

The work is part of an overall £10.3 million project by Norfolk County Council to provide new drainage systems to improve surface water management in greater Norwich. The improvements are designed to deal with the type of flooding that could be expected on average every 10 years such as that which affected homes and businesses between May and August 2014 and led to 80 properties being flooded internally, some on a number of occasions. The council has invested £1.2m and successfully bid for £9.1m from the Department for Transport to fund the improvement work, which is due to be completed by March next year.

The work which will cost in the region of £25,000 will be carried out by Norfolk County Council’s Community and Environmental Services Department and their contractors.

For Further Information
Tony Stepney, Scheme Designer on 0344 800 8020.

Up-to-date information about roadworks in Norfolk is available on the County Council website at www.norfolk.gov.uk/roadworks