Riverbank at Waterside/Mill End Close

Posted on September 27, 2019

From: Bedford Group of Internal Drainage Boards (IDB)

Re: Riverbank at Waterside/Mill End Close

After considering various options for repairing the riverbank at Waterside the best appear to be:

• Pile along the whole riverbank with light weight steel piles, backfill behind the piles with soil, re-profile and seed. Excavate island to fill voids and reinstate island.
• Excavate a trench through the island, remove the clay core that was placed previously. Line the trench with a geotextile and fill with bentonite. This material has better erosion resistance than clay. Pile along weak points of riverbank to provided extra protection. Reprofile and reinstate riverbank.

On completion of the main work the channel will be dredged with the material levelled on the island. When dry, the island would be reinstated to grass.

In August/September the site was visited by IDB with the contractors to discuss the project and are awaiting estimated costs, before a decision is made on how to proceed.

During site visits with the contractors, further leaks have appeared on the south side of Waterside next to the concrete overspill weir. This section will be added to the cost estimates for repairs.

Date: 26/09/2019