New pumping station opens to reduce flooding in Bedford Bedford News

A new pumping station which will reduce the risk of flooding south of the river has been officially opened.

Called King’s Ditch Pumping Station – it is near the banks of the River Ouse at Bedford Girls School on Cardington Road.

It has been identified as the best solution to reducing the risk of flooding in this area after several incidents since 1998 – and has come about through a partnership with Bedford Borough Council, the Bedfordshire and River Ivel Drainage Board, Anglian Water, Environment Agency and Bedford Girls School.

This station complements the existing Environment Agency flood barrier on the river and as a fully automatic arrangement it is a great improvement over the previous manual pumping solution, each pump capable of discharging 300 liters of water per second.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “We’ve all seen the devastation flooding can cause over Christmas 2020, and it’s great to have another piece of equipment in place to improve our flood resilience locally.”

Cllr Doug McMurdo, Chairman of the Bedfordshire and River Ivel Drainage Board, added: “A lot of work has gone into the design and installation of this pumping station. It is great news that it is now up and running on the River Great Ouse, and many properties and businesses in the Kingsbrook catchment are now better protected and at reduced risk of flooding.

*Bedford Borough Council has also updated the local flood risk management strategy for 2022-2027 and would like to hear your views.

This revised strategy builds on what has been learned since 2015 and includes lessons learned from the December 2020 floods in Bedford, where 65 properties were flooded in 27 different locations.

You can also email your response to [email protected] or write to Flood Risk Team, Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP

The deadline for responses is April 4.