Council cracking down on flood threats in town
Efforts to avoid potential flooding will take place later this year, flood alleviation work will be carried out later this year in a bid to halt potential damage to shops and homes.
Coventry Road, a street just outside of the town centre was singled out as the only street in Harborough where flood improvements could be made after last July’s flash flood in Market Harborough. A ‘trial hole’ will be dug in the road on Sunday, September 7th, in preparation. The road will be closed from 7am. Anglian Water has decided to install new larger-capacity sewers in the road.
The exact date or cost for the work has not yet been confirmed but Anglian Water are planning to hold a public exhibition explain their plans next month. They have also said to have it finished by spring next year.
Some business owners in the town-although happy to hear about the extra protection to their businesses-are hesitant in the road-closures, concerned that it may drive customers away, particularly around the Christmas time. Antony Innes, from Anglian Water, said: “This project is being designed to help alleviate the flooding problems experienced by businesses along Coventry Road in the past.” And in regards to the trial hole, “It’s part of the process to understand the effect it will have so that when the work does start; can go as smoothly as possible.”
Mr Innes has insisted the whole project will take a matter of weeks, not months, and explained that it is a procedural tactic to apply for long periods to cover all eventualities. In 2005 a £2m, 439,000-gallon tank was built under the commons car park. This helped reduce some of the problems but it has not covered all eventualities.
