FEARS are rising that Frodsham Marshes could become a giant floodplain if plans to turn off ‘vital’ pumping stations get the green light.
For decades two pumping stations on Ince and Frodsham Marshes have stopped acres of farmland flooding, but now the pumps could be switched off because they cost around £70,000 a year to maintain.
Residents and councillors in Helsby fear that farmland, village playing fields, and even the M56 could turn to swampland if heavy rain causes water to overflow into neighbouring fields.
During a presentation to Helsby Parish councillors last month, Richard Shirres and Ian Sinclair of the Environment Agency said the pumps were ‘not cost effective’ and were not working as well as they did when they were installed during the Second World War.
Mr Shirres explained the Environment Agency (EA) had been reviewing the future of the stations since a site inspection in 2007 and had come up with a number of options – preferring to switch off the pumps for good.
“This is a very low flood risk in this area, the pumps are not really achieving very much with the amount of revenue we are putting into them,” said Mr Shirres.
“Current spending is about £70,000 per year, so at the moment it is just not cost effective to keep these pumps running.
“We’re finding it increasingly difficult to get parts to maintain them so we know they will stop eventually.”
Mr Shirres explained a change in Government guidelines meant the EA were now focusing their resources on areas which presented a high flooding risk and were densely populated, and could not use funds to drain land.
But Cllr Stuart Hulse said that it sounded as if the Environment Agency was simply ‘waving goodbye’ to Frodsham, and said: “If you stop running the pumps and let it flood it is right next to the M56 motorway which will be adversely affected.
“We have had quite bad flooding in the past on the railway line, this will just make the situation worse.
“You are going to walk away from it and say goodbye Frodsham Marshes, and we will be left defenceless.
“I know you don’t know it but we will be left without any flood defence system.”
One concerned resident said the marsh often flooded even with the pumps working, and said: “Up to a couple of years ago the marsh was completely flooded and that was even with both pumps running.
“The water used to run out into the old pool, but then it couldn’t get out. What will happen to the village field and the car parks, do we just say forget it?”
The EA is consulting farmers, councillors, Highways, Network Rail and the National Grid, to determine what the effect of switching off the pumps would be on transport and power systems.
Another of the options was to transfer the running of the pumps to a major operator, and the EA said it was in talks with Peel Energy and Environmental, Grow How and Quinn Glass concerning this option.
But with the decision not expected to be announced until July and another three years before it impacts on the pumps, Mr Shirres reassured councillors and said: “We are right at the beginning of this process and are considering every aspect in great detail.”
As part of the consultation into the future of the pumping stations residents are being asked to email any questions or concerns to i.sinclair@environmentagency.gov.uk or telephone 01925 543431.
