Additonal flood defences could be installed in Radcliffe under plans being put forward.
Proposals for a new flood gate have been submitted for Hardy’s Gate Bridge on Dumers Lane next to the River Irwell to alleviate the risk of flooding from in the Radcliffe and Redvales areas.
The proposals follow extreme flooding experienced in Redvales in 2015 which saw more than 700 homes and businesses affected.
The plans form part of a partnership between Bury Council and the Environment Agency to implement an extensive scheme to enhance flood protection in a number of places along the River Irwell as part of a Flood Risk Management Scheme (FRMS).
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Consultants firm Mott Macdonald, who provided a planning statement for the development, said Radcliffe remains without flood-associated infrastructure.
It’s report said: “This extreme flood event was caused because of excessive rainfall from Storm Eva, which led to an intense fluvial flood from the River Irwell.
“Nevertheless, other sources such as surface water as well as the channel constraints associated with the River Irwell contributed towards the size of the flood within the area.
“Even with this recent extreme flood event, there remain zero formal flood-associated infrastructures on the River Irwell within the Radcliffe and Redvales area.
“The implication of similar future flood events would, in all likelihood, cause more substantial harm to the area because there are several considerable residential / commercial developments planned for within the River Irwell floodplain.”
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Since 2020, eight schemes aiming to reduce the risk of flooding throughout the borough have been approved which included additional improvements to Hardy’s Gate Bridge.
Bury has been hit with flooding on several occasions in recent years, including last month when businesses on Water Street, Radcliffe were forced to close their doors after heavy downpours.
Other businesses, including Baby Sensory at the Wow Centre in Prestwich also had to close due to rising water levels.
In March this year, planning inspectors threw out proposals for 72 new homes near the centre of Ramsbottom due to the risk of flooding.
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