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Construction work is continuing on a £28 million project to protect around 1,400 properties from flooding in Birmingham.
Access preparation work on Phase 2 of the Perry Barr and Witton Flood Risk Management Scheme started late in January. Main construction works are scheduled to start in late spring/early summer.
Works for phase 2 will include building a new embankment to increase the capacity of the existing storage area at Forge Mill in the Sandwell Valley.
The Environment Agency (EA) are advising visitors to Sandwell Valley Park that the park will remain open during ongoing works. Over the next few weeks, tree felling operations will be carried out while HGVs will be moving through the access routes by Forge Mill Farm and the railway bridge by the RSPB centre. Any HGV movement will be carried out within normal working hours Monday to Friday, with priority given to park users to keep disruption to a minimum.
In addition, both Forge Mill Farm and the RSPB will remain open during construction, and a path between the two buildings will remain available throughout the construction of the scheme. Handsworth Golf Course will also be modified to support the scheme, but it will remain open as usual.
Rachel Kelly, Environment Agency project lead for the scheme, said: "This is a very exciting scheme that is going to reduce the risk of flooding for 1,400 properties in the area. We have been working closely with our partners and the local community to ensure that we minimise disruption to the park users and keep the community informed as we progress through the construction phase."
Cllr David Hosell said: "Council officers have worked hard with the Environment Agency to ensure that the scheme has minimal effect on visitors to the Valley.
"We are delighted that part of the scheme and work in the Country Park will include new fencing for improved animal pens at Forge Mill Farm, extending it as a visitor attraction. There will also be improvements to the entrance into the park for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders entering from the Old Newton Road."
(LM)
