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New flood gates are going into the entrance to Miller Park as the Environment Agency continues work on Broadgate’s multi-million pound flood defence scheme.
It will form part of a new-look entrance to the city’s grade-II listed parks at the West Coast Mainline bridge by the Continental.
Read more: Broadgate’s £54.7million flood defence project wins ‘considerate constructor’ award
One floodgate has so far been installed and there will be four in total.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said the vast majority of the time the floodgates will remain open unless there’s a flood warning in force.
When work finishes on the Miller Park entrance it will see resin bound surfacing put down with a “Welcome to Miller Park” motif.
Challenges on Riverside
Further works are continuing on the Riverside section of the scheme where the Environment Agency said they’ve hit delays due to ‘unexpected and complicated riverbank and bedrock conditions’. Engineers are having to redraw their plans for this area.
The Riverside section has seen the flood wall at the rear of the BAC/EE Sports and Social Association nearly complete with a fence and netting being put up for security and safety.
Pre-cast wall panels are put in along much of the Riverside section topped by glass panels to maintain views of the River Ribble.
Work outside the Miller Gardens Apartments has started as the existing wall is removed and those living nearby have been thanked for their patience while piling work takes place.
Artist Aidan Douglas has been commissioned to carve the new concrete wall to ‘blend it in the with the nearby Penwortham Old Bridge’.
Meet concrete artisan, Aidan Douglas
– working on the #Preston and #SouthRibble Flood Risk Management Scheme.
He's carving and painting concrete to make the new flood wall blend in with the nearby historic Penwortham Old Bridge.https://t.co/yaWGi7hl9G @TheFloodHub pic.twitter.com/BHdDaPMfdr
— Env Agency NW (@EnvAgencyNW) April 25, 2024
What’s already happened?
The Broadgate stretch of the flood defence scheme was finished in Spring this year.
A new flood defence wall runs 568 metres between Liverpool Road Bridge and Penwortham Old Bridge and has 180 flood wall panels.
The footpath and cycleway, part of the Guild Wall, has been re-surfaced as part of the work and re-opened along this Broadgate stretch just before Christmas last year.
Broadgate Gardens was completed in Spring this year and has been ‘handed back to Preston City Council’.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Paths have been resurfaced and turf laid with a mix of fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and flowers planted too. Daffodil, crocus and snowdrop bulbs will be planted later this year ready for next Spring.
“More than 450 shrubs and trees have been put in the gardens to create interest all year round for wildlife, including bees and birds.
“There is also new seating, and the old viewing platform has been restored, so visitors can enjoy views of the River Ribble.”
Read more: Fishergate Hill and Broadgate junction gets ‘bee-friendly’ bus shelter
What’s next?
On the south side of the River Ribble in Penwortham the work has begun in Riverside Road.
The old wall is being removed and new flood wall panels are going in.
The road closure has switched to between Havelock Road and Penwortham Old Bridge. Work is expected to continue in Riverside Road throughout 2024.
Work is also taking place in what’s called ‘Ribble Sidings’.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “The embankment here – built up as part of the flood defences – was mostly completed last year. The contractor compound at Margaret Road is due to be de-mobilised this Autumn, once work along Riverside Road is nearing completion.
“The Ribble Sidings will then be transformed into a small wetland – an insect-friendly habitat with new trees, grasses, wildflowers and an orchard.”
A further part of the £54.7million flood defence scheme is then expected to start in 2025 focused on the Walton-le-Dale section of the River Ribble.
When is it all finished?
An Environment Agency spokesperson told Blog Preston: “We anticipate that the South Side of the River Ribble (Penwortham – Riverside Road) will be completed by the end of 2024 and the North Side of the River Ribble (Preston – Riverside) will follow.
“We expect to start construction in Walton-le-Dale in 2025 and complete works in 2027. We will continue to keep the community informed as we progress with the scheme.”
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