Issue - meetings

Report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth). 

1.    Approval of the masterplan for Yarrow Meadows.

2.    Approval of the proposals for public and landowner engagement into the Yarrow Meadows project.

3.    Approval of the proposed planned works and budget for the delivery of the masterplan.

4.    Approval to support further external funding bids to be submitted to aid masterplan delivery.

The Executive Leader presented the report of the Director of Business, Development and Growth that provided an update on the delivery of the Yarrow Meadows Masterplan.

The River Yarrow Floodplain project is an ongoing project that seeks to deliver an aspirational 10 year vision focussing on Social, Economic and Environmental benefits. The project has developed following on from the Croston Flood alleviation Scheme that acted as a catalyst for change and brought together stakeholders and interested parties to identify what and how other improvements in the area could be realised.

A scoping exercise was carried out at Yarrow Meadows in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust which also identified an opportunity to deliver social, economic and environmental outcomes on the council owned land. The Environment Agency, supported by the Douglas Catchment Partnership, had identified the opportunity to deliver Water Framework Directive (WFD) measures and National Flood Management (NFM) measures within the site combined with social and economic benefits. In 2017, the Environment Agency and Chorley Council worked in partnership to complete a Geomorphology Assessment and Biodiversity assessment to identify opportunities and constraints on the site. Chorley Council had produced a master plan that provided a vision for the site to deliver multiple benefits for people and wildlife.

The project will deliver natural flood management interventions on the site to slow the flow of water to communities at risk utilising the Geomorphology and biodiversity assessments. External funding has been awarded to the project which will aid the delivery of the masterplan over a three year period.

Members discussed the importance of this work and asked for its scope to be widened both upstream and downstream of the catchment area. Working with partner agencies to secure additional funding was paramount to its success, so that balsam bashing, reed growing and banking edging schemes could continue across the borough. It was agreed that there needed to be a more co-ordinated approach taken by those organisations that had a responsibility to protect our rivers and prevent flooding in the future rather than a reliance on voluntary groups and as such it will be useful to produce and action plan to demonstrate how this issue is being tackled across the borough.

Decision:

Approval of the masterplan for Yarrow Meadows.

1     Approval of the proposals for public and landowner engagement into the Yarrow Meadows project.

2     Approval of the proposed planned works and budget for the delivery of the masterplan.

3     Approval to support further external funding bids to be submitted to aid masterplan delivery.

Reasons for recommendation(s):

The project enhances the flood plain of the River Yarrow within the Yarrow Valley Country Park and aids the management and improvement of Council assets for recreation and biodiversity.

The project builds on the good work already invested in the Croston Flood Alleviation Scheme and further strengthening flood defences for the residents of Chorley and beyond. The project also delivers key Social, Environmental and Economic benefits to the Borough and key benefits to the health and wellbeing of its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14