2. Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme. Environment Agency Proposed options
Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme. Environment Agency Proposed options. April Awaiting decision
Two broad options for a flood alleviation scheme that are technically, environmentally and economically viable.
To build flood defences where none presently exist, and refurbish or raise existing walls
To build one or more floodwater storage areas upstream of Morpeth, together with new and refurbished flood walls in the town
Creating flood water storage areas upstream mean defences in town would not need to be as high

3. Three possible sites upstream to store water during flood conditions
Upstream of Mitford Hall on the Mitford Estate
Upstream of Rivergreen Mill
Upstream of Meldon Park
Both of the broad options would be complemented by improvements to culverts in Morpeth.
Increasing the culverts’ capacity should reduce the risk of flooding from Cotting Burn, Church Burn and Postern Burn

4. The options are: Option 1 – Local defences in Morpeth
Option 2a – Storage near Rivergreen Mill (Site B) and local defences in Morpeth
Option 2b – Storage on the Mitford Hall Estate (Site D) and local defences in Morpeth
Option 2c – Storage on the Mitford Hall Estate (Site D) and Meldon Park (Site A) and local defences in Morpeth
Option 2d – Storage near Rivergreen Mill (Site B) and Meldon Park (Site A) and local defences in Morpeth

5. Issues around choosing flood defences – exceedence probability
Socio-economic and political limits to the size/capacity of structures
Can always be overtopped by a flood larger than the design capacity of the defence
Encourages ‘false sense of security’
Encourages increased floodplain development – the ‘levee effect’ – which in turn encourages more defences then more development, etc
An engineered floodwall that overtopped

6. Issues around choosing flood defences – conflict over choices
Environmental/aesthetic impact
Different people in different parts of the town may have different ideas
Go to the Morpeth Flood Action Group website for some of their comments

7. Willingness to pay: “Suppose, the government is considering implementing a comprehensive national flood defence scheme ...”
60% said they would not pay anything

8. Willing or not willing to pay
Depends what it actually means...and who gets it
I would be willing to pay almost anything
I would like to avoid
The stress of the flooding
This ever happening again
I can't afford to pay
Other things are more important than avoiding flooding
The government or council should pay for this
I don't own the property I live in
I'm already paying insurance for protection
I don't believe the money would be spent appropriately
depends what it actually means...and who gets it
I would be willing to pay almost anything
I would like to avoid
the stress of the flooding
this ever happening again
why not pay
I can't afford to pay
other things are more important than avoiding flooding
the government or council should pay for this
I don't own the property I live in
I'm already payinh insurance for protection
I don't believe the money would be spent appropriately

9. …what is the minimum amount of money that would compensate your household for all the damages due to the recent flood?
Can't put money on it
It's the personal items you cannot replace
How do you quantify the disruption to your life?
Money is irrelevant - no amount could compensate

10. Flood Management Strategies - Non-Structural

11. Non-structural approaches
Warnings – more in a minute
Preparedness planning
Awareness raising
Flood wardens (a Morpeth group has formed and met)
Individual householder actions (maybe making own flood plan or installing flood boards across door entrances)
Advocacy and protest – the Morpeth Flood Action Group

12. The High Stanners area

13. Non-structural approaches – warnings Warnings given and not given
The Environment Agency issued 22 Flood Warnings and 7 Severe Flood Warnings and successfully reached over 500 properties on 5th and 6th September 2008
But an Environment Agency warning system error meant 200 people did not receive flood warnings
The flood warning areas (FWAs) were reassessed after the 2008 flood event

14. a) FWAs in Morpeth in September 2008
b) New FWAs in 2009
There is a 61%-67% sign- up rate for the warning service

15. Issues about warning systems
Warnings do not take away the flood, just minimize some of the risk and the impacts
At present, people have to ‘opt in’ to a warning scheme. The Pitt Review recommended people should have to ‘opt out’
Warning systems are only effective if people get them long enough before to take damage reducing actions
And if they are capable of taking actions

16. Conclusions

17. What does this tell us?
Although many respondents had lived in Morpeth for many years
For the majority (93%) this was their first and only experience of a disaster like this
So there was not a lot of past experience for people to fall back on to prepare them for such an event
Will the 2008 experience help them if another flood were to occur?
Our sample gives us a picture of many people, women in particular, living alone and having to cope with the flood
Many are retired people on a fixed income
These would typically be regarded as vulnerable people
A number of respondents live in social housing (e.g. Housing Association) rather than private properties
This can mean they have limited control over their residential location or on the processes of recovery and reconstruction and this can be a stressor

18. What does this tell us?
We have a picture of much variability in the data so far
We have many people facing an extreme event but coping
We have others (usually a minority) for whom the flood was most extreme and the impact of it on their health and their economic position has also been extreme
For many, their friends, family and neighbours were a major support and continue to be so
There is a varying response (positive and negative) toward the range of service providers (rescue services, volunteers, local government) which we need to analyse more closely
We have seen remarkable resilience and fortitude in the face of an extreme event
While the majority have said they are victims of the flood
They are perhaps better described as survivors

19. What does this tell us?
While people are seeking to put this behind them, it is not yet possible for some who are still settling insurance claims or trying to get back into their homes or seeking a solution to the flood risk
If climate change predictions are correct then we are likely to see more extreme vents such as this.
What do you think is the best way to face this uncertain future?
Many Morpeth residents have been through a major life event which has had considerable social, health and economic impacts on them
Many people have told us that they worry every time it rains, they go and watch the river, ring the Environment Agency Floodline, or check the Met Office website

20. References and Links

21. References and Links
Castle Morpeth Borough Council (2007) Local Authority Area Profile: Castle Morpeth [online] castle_morpeth.pdf
Environment Agency (2005) Wansbeck and Blyth Catchment Flood Management Plan Environment Agency, Bristol
Environment Agency 2009 Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme Options Consultation, April 2009
JBA Consulting (2008) Flooding in Castle Morpeth 6 & 7 September 2008: Independent Review Draft Report, JBA Consulting, Northampton
JBA Consulting (2009) Flooding in Castle Morpeth 6 & 7 September 2008: Independent Review Final Report, JBA Consulting, Northampton
Morpeth Flood Group 2009 Castle Morpeth Area DRAFT Flood Action Plan. February b1332d364f762.skydrive.live.com/self.as px/.Public/DraftFloodActionPlan2009Public.p df
NLRF (Northumberland Local Resilience Forum) (2008) September 2008 Multi-Agency Debrief Report: Severe Weather and Associated Flooding [online] _final_debrief.pdf

22. References and Links
The Pitt Review pittreview/thepittreview/final_report .html
BBC TV ‘Inside Out’ programme (photo gallery, script and video) /09/25/north_east_floods_s14_w3_feature.shtml
2001 census data available online: .asp
Local people speak of the damage, John Healey MP Floods Recovery Minister speaks of more positive aspects. UTUBE video en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK262&q=video+Morpeth+floo d&lr=&um=1&ie=UTF- 8&ei=DIQRS__FDNTRjAfDpfzJAw&sa=X&oi=video_re sult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQqwQwAA #source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK262&q=vide o+Morpeth+flood&lr=&um=1&ie=UTF- 8&ei=DIQRS__FDNTRjAfDpfzJAw&sa=X&oi=video_re sult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQqwQwAA &qvid=video+Morpeth+flood&vid=
Morpeth Flood Action Group