Delays to Feniton flood defence scheme

Two phases have already been completed

A vital plan to protect Feniton from flooding has been delayed – again.

Phase three of the flood alleviation scheme for the town, which involves laying a pipe under the railway line, was due to be carried out next month.

The scheme would see flood water collected from above the village and diverted down a pipe through the village.

There would have been a 52 hour weekend track closure to facilitate the major excavation works to create a new culvert and the installation of a one metre drainage pipe beneath the rail track.

The drainage pipe will connect up to the already completed phases one and two to take away any flood water from people and properties.

East Devon District Council though has been advised by Network Rail that phase three of the Feniton Flood Alleviation Scheme cannot be undertaken as planned next month.

It is yet another delay for the scheme as a guide to the Flood Alleviation Scheme on the council’s website, the link of which no longer works, said the fourth and final phase of works should have started in the Autumn 2016.

Works were described as ‘moving forward’ early in 2017, and at the end of 2018 an October 2019 date for the works were announced.

There is a £4,000 per minute liability for late reopening of the railway line and having reviewed the delivery programmes, Network Rail told the council there would be an unacceptable risk to the hand back of the operational railway.

East Devon District Council is now prioritising finding a new future track closure date for the works and will consider how phase four of the scheme can be progressed, so that the entire project can be commissioned when the excavation work is complete.

Cllr Susie Bond, Feniton’s ward member, said that the latest delay is disappointing and has urged Network Rail to resolve matters as soon as possible.

She added: “It was immensely disappointing that Network Rail has been unable to reach agreement with its own contractors after a whole year of delay on this phase of the flood scheme. I urge Network Rail to resolve matters as soon as possible so that phase 3 can be undertaken before April 2020 at the absolute latest.

“Work on the flood scheme started in 2012 and the most protracted and complicated part of the process has been negotiations with Network Rail. The patience of the people of Feniton and of the Parish Council, in particular, has been extraordinary.”

Explaining the latest delay, an East Devon District Council spokesman said that Network Rail had advised them that the proposed October track closure window for the works would be missed.

They added: “Phase three involves a 52 hour weekend track closure to facilitate major excavation works to create a new culvert and the installation of a 1m drainage pipe beneath the rail track.

“Because of unacceptable financial compensation risks to the council should these works overrun, Network Rail is managing phase three and has tendered the work on East Devon’s behalf.

“Having reviewed the delivery programmes submitted by the suppliers, Network Rail feels there would be an unacceptable risk to the hand back of the operational railway, which is subject to a strict time scale

“Network Rail has advised the council that post tender negotiations with the suppliers are required, which means that the October track closure window will now be missed. This is so that they can secure the necessary assurances and clarification on construction methodologies, road closures and viable track management.

“Network Rail understandably needs to be satisfied that the chosen contractor can undertake the work to a standard that ensures the train timetable is not interrupted after the track closure.

“The consequences of work overrunning is hugely costly and both Network Rail and East Devon need to mitigate the risk of being fined if works overrun.

“East Devon is now prioritising finding a new future track closure date for the works and will consider how phase four of the scheme can be progressed, so that the entire project can be commissioned when the excavation work is complete.”

The design work for phase four, which will see the installation of a 1050mm diameter pipe at Metcombe Cottage to connect into the railway crossing installed as part of phase three, was due to be undertaken this winter, with the actual construction of phase four of the flood alleviation scheme taking place in spring 2020 when the weather is warmer.

Construction of the channels to intercept flood water upstream of the village, and construction of the remainder of the culvert to link the sections, phases one and two, have already been completed.

Flooding that hit Feniton back in 2008 left the village as “unpassable” and many residents were unable to leave their houses due to the river of floodwater running past their homes. There were also several landslides in the area.

The medieval St Andrew’s Church in Feniton Old Village was left under two feet of water, as were homes in the village centre.

Front gardens of houses were littered with flood-damaged white goods, furniture, books, a caravan and more.