Flood Prevention Team
On Tuesday 29th September a senior team from Nottinghamshire County Council flood prevention team, led by Dr Josh Wells (centre), came, as promised, to assess the drainage and flood risks in Orston. Their inspection had been prompted by strongly felt concerns raised by the Parish Council, which thanked them for their thorough approach. They walked the Bon Moor drain, inspected and discussed culverts, drains, gulleys and blockages on Mill Lane, Loughbon, Lombard Street and High Street. They complimented the residents of Orston who undertook cutting back and clearing of obstructions in the Bon Moor drain. After two hours inspection they left with plans to discuss drainage issues with VIA, (their ‘Roads and Gulleys arm’), and to investigate riparian owner issues relating to drainage.
The Parish Council hopes that this inspection and subsequent discussions will prove advantageous to Orston.
Bon Moor Drain
The Parish Council has been in diplomatic negotiations with Nottinghamshire County Council regarding our request for formal management protocols for the upper reaches of the Bon Moor Drain (“Stink Dyke”). This drain is redundant and dry for most of the year and sprouts abundant vegetation which blocks it. This greatly increases flood risk to Orston when the drain is suddenly overwhelmed with water from heavy rainfall and drainage from higher land.
The Inland Drainage Board (IDB) is adamant that the cleansing of this drain is legally the responsibility of ‘riparian owners’, i.e. All the residents/landowners who abut the drain, or if they are tenants – their landlords.
Whilst the Parish Council hopes and expects riparian owners to meet their legal responsibilities some are elderly and/or infirm and cannot realistically be expected to struggle in the drain with cutting implements. The ‘Grafters’ have done sterling work in trying to clear the ‘Bon Moor’ for years to allow flood water passage but THEY, also, are not in the ‘first flush of youth’.
The Inland Drainage Board has been extremely helpful in trying to keep the Bon Moor Drain free of vegetation and rubbish.
The dyke when clear of vegetation
The IDB does this as a ‘favour’ but, as such, it is not the major priority for them as they have a full and busy schedule of work that IS specified as their priority. A great deal of time is spent by O.P.C. in trying to ‘call in’ this favour at appropriate times to minimise our flood risk.
At the time of writing this, to keep you informed, we are working with Dr. Josh Wells, the Principal Officer for Flood Risk Management, Highways and Transport for Nottinghamshire County Council.
We will keep you informed of any developments in this important matter.
Meantime, if your property has been affected by flooding please can you contact Gerry McMahon on 07971 443346 or email cllrgerrymcmahon@orstonparish.co.uk
For more help and advice about flooding please visit this Nottinghamshire County Council webpage https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKNOTTSCC/bulletins/3b6b947
Thank you
O.P.C.
SAFER ROADS UPDATE!!
Making Our Roads Safer Petition – Thank you!!
Overwhelming support
Your support for the petition was really heartening with 180 signatures. This level of support confirms the general consensus that there is an urgent need to improve the safety of roads approaching the village and at key junctions within Orston.
This is probably the first time Orston has investigated the question of road safety as a whole rather than on a piecemeal basis following an accident. The key objective behind the petition is “prevention rather than cure” before someone is again seriously injured, or killed.
The petition is supported by a comprehensive report with recommendations. This was developed from discussions with residents and it highlights their concerns following serious accidents and near misses on roads approaching the village and at junctions within Orston. An important request in the petition is that site meetings should take place with the relevant agencies to consider and agree specific road safety improvements.
Submission of petition
The petition was presented to the Chairman of Notts. County Council on Thursday 7th December by our County Council representative, Cllr. Francis Purdue-Horan on behalf of Orston Parish Council and the residents of Orston. Orston Parish Councillors Angela Probert and Harry Batchford, together with Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator Bob Clarke, are shown in the photograph handing over the petition to Francis, and they also attended the meeting in the public gallery in support.
Next steps
The petition will automatically trigger an investigation into road safety in Orston. Our liaison contact at County Hall will be writing to Gary Wood, NCC Head of Highways asking for a site visit which Orston’s representatives will be invited to.
The Council has until 22 February to provide a response. This will be formally published on the NCC website. It will highlight issues including whether the Council intend to take formal steps to alleviate the issues we have raised.
In lieu of this report, Councillor Francis Purdue-Horan has formally requested a site visit with highways bosses and lead petitioners. This will be with the Head of Highways at Nottinghamshire County Council and the senior District Manager for Via East Midlands.
THOROTON SOLAR INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
A Message from the Chair of Thoroton Parish Council
Message from Chair, Thoroton Parish CouncilThe days are getting noticeably longer
The birds are responding in full voice. Staking their territory and hoping to entice a mate. Its Saturday and I’ve been in the office. It’s a fair afternoon and I’m counting down the hours until I can speed home and get out for a walk before I lose the last of the light.
I head straight for the Millennium Green in the hope of catching Fiona – we’re keen to see the sterling work the grafters have done repairing the gate and replacing the battered wooden fence. After a cheery catch-up with Fiona and the Hounslows I walk the final few feet over the bridge, I turn into the entrance when I spot a flitting shape in the air above me – the first bat of the season!
Trawling for insects around 2 metres from the surface of Smite lane. It’s so close I can almost touch it. Unperturbed it continues in a rough relay – back and forth, with the occasional spiral, twist or dip. I watch in awe as it does a few loops directly above my head!
I finally drag myself away and enter the Millennium Green. The gate and fencing look great – Thanks guys.
I make a full lap of the field, taking in the newly erected dens that have sprung up and the area of cleared brambles. Then back through the willow arch and up the Smite and onto Gibson’s Bridge. A pause to take in the amazing sunset. Back towards the village looking over my shoulder at the sunset that’s intensifying by the minute. The orange is bouncing off the grey clouds and reflecting in the puddles left in the fields by the floods.
Even though walking seems to be the only permitted activity during lockdown- it never wears thin. I feel a deep connection to the village and the nature that shares our wonderful space.