Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

Councillor Alison Austin declared that her membership of Lincolnshire County Council’s Flood and Drainage Management Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman declared he had received correspondence about the Barrier Project, but had no prejudicial interest.

The meeting began with a PowerPoint presentation by Adam Robinson, Boston Barrier Manager at the Environment Agency (EA), summarised as follows.  The Boston tidal barrier and associated works hasd a completion date of December 2019.  The barrier is designed to be multi-functioning, though its primary function will be as a tidal defence barrier.  The preferred location for the barrier is just downstream of the South Forty Foot outfall.  Other locations had been considered, but they would either remove the possibility of a non-tidal link between the Grand Sluice and the Black Sluice Lock or detrimentally impact on the operation of the Port of Boston, the quay frontage, the Wash and businesses.

The barrier and associated works would be put in to a higher level than the existing on the downstream Haven banks.  Modelling had confirmed that there would be no change in the downstream water levels as a result of building or operating the barrier.  If there was a tidal surge, the barrier would not detrimentally increase the local water levels in the Haven.  The barrier would stop the tide at that location when deployed for a tidal surge event, similar to the way the Grand Sluice worked. 

The barrier would be built to full height straight away to avoid a double impact on the port and river users.  It would be complex to return to increase the height of ‘hard defences’, concrete walls and a steel gate, in the future; it was easier and more efficient to do the extra work now, rather than in 30-40 years.

Since the floods of 5 December 2013, the priority is to protect Boston from tidal flooding as soon as possible.  There was still a lot of detail to be resolved around water level management; therefore, a partnership decision had been taken to adopt a phased approach to it in the future to avoid delaying the flood defence.  A Common Vision for Water Management in Boston and the surrounding areas had been agreed between all parties and issued to the public.  All partners are still committed to providing water level management as part of the Fens Waterways Link. The current scheme makes allowances for how water level management can be implemented in the future and a lock or other structure constructed as part of that. 

The Fishing Fleet does not need to be relocated permanently because the tidal regime in the Haven will not change.  There will be no impact on coastal navigation to and from The Wash; the barrier will normally be flat on the riverbed and only properly raised to stop a tidal surge. 

A Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) is currently being finalised to be submitted in the summer to obtain all the required permissions to build the barrier.  Time had been allowed for the possibility that the Secretary of State might decide to call a public inquiry.

Raising the Haven banks further would be phase 5 of the Boston Combined Strategy, dependant on climate change.  Existing low spots  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.