• Opportunity for locals to find out about the impact on roads and traffic.
• Funding for long-term solution to reinstate the River Derwent flood defences given the go ahead.

The Environment Agency, Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council are inviting the local community to a drop-in event in Matlock, Derbyshire on 19 May from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.

Locals can find out more about the Environment Agency’s work to restore flood protection in the town and the expected impact on roads and traffic while the work is being carried out.

The event will be held at the Imperial Rooms, Imperial Road, Matlock, DE4 3NL and offers the opportunity for members of the public to speak with the project team.

The green light for funding has now been given for the work to go ahead and is expected to cost between £3.5 million and £5 million. This will benefit over 50 homes and businesses by reinstating the River Derwent flood defences.

These essential works will pave the way for the main construction work due to begin in summer to replace the flood wall behind businesses in Crown Square, Matlock that collapsed after this year’s February storms.

The longer-term work to reinstate the River Derwent flood defences follows a temporary measure that the Environment Agency carried out last month in which 100 2-tonne rock-filled bags were transferred by crane into the River Derwent, adding to the 50 bags that were placed there in February to reduce erosion and limit damage to the Environment Agency flood wall.

Naomi Doughty, Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

We look forward to meeting with members of the public at the drop-in event on 19 May and start sharing with them our long-term plans to reinstate the flood protection for Matlock.

We’re expecting to start preparatory work in early June, and this will have some impacts on roads and traffic. The drop-in event provides an ideal opportunity for the local community to find out more about these measures.

We apologise in advance for any disruption caused by these works and we’re grateful for the patience and support of the local community.

Notes to editors

The initial cost estimates are between £3.5 million to £5 million due to access being severely restricted which is likely to necessitate a large crane to lift plant and materials into place. These initial cost estimates will be refined as the design process takes shape and more detailed plans are developed.

Following the collapse of a privately owned wall in February this year, the Environment Agency instructed Jackson Civil Engineering to complete an immediate repair by placing over 50 rock-filled bags in the River Derwent using a large crane situated on the A6. These emergency works were completed within 24 hours of the wall collapsing due to a forecast of further high-water levels on the River Derwent.

Further flood prevention work was carried out in April which involved lifting an additional 100 2-tonne rock-filled bags by a large crane situated on the A6 into the River Derwent to reduce erosion and limit damage to an Environment Agency flood wall that sits next to the privately owned wall that has collapsed.

At the same time, a survey team gathered valuable geological information to inform the longer-term engineering solution.