Anglian Water has teamed up with Beccles Town Council and the East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board (IDB), on a £100,000 project to address a number of localised flooding issues associated with the town drain.

Beccles has a complex history with flooding and during the major 2020/21 event, flooding occurred from a combination of sources including from the River Waveney and heavy rainfall, resulting in saturated ground with surface water run-off that was unable to drain away.

Jonathan Glerum, Anglian Water’s flood risk manager explained: "Given the complexity of flooding in Beccles we have been working with partner organisations to investigate the drainage network as part of the wider improvements to help manage flood risk in the area.

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"Our surveys identified a defect with a watercourse that plays a pivotal role in drawing surface water into the drain running through Beccles town. This was having a knock-on impact on how water was discharging through the town drain, causing surface water to back up during times of heavy rain.

"Ensuring that water can easily flow through ditches and watercourses helps protect the town from flooding, so it was important to support Beccles Town Council on this project. This was the first time we’ve worked directly with a town council on a scheme like this, and it’s a great example of how we intend to continue working across the region. Working together with partners and stakeholders we can make a bigger impact than any one organisation can alone."

The partnership scheme secured IDB support on fast-tracking the necessary improvements, which include removing blockages, repairing foundational structures, and ensuring unobstructed and free flowing surface water through the town drain.