Environment Agency responds to calls to reopen Boston’s Black Sluice Pumping Station in a bid to protect south Lincolnshire from flood danger
Hopes to reopen a decommissioned pumping station have been dealt a blow after it has been confirmed that there are no ‘immediate’ plans for investment in a new flood resilience programme.
Calls have been made to bring back the Black Sluice Pumping Station after this year’s devastating floods resulted in damage for homes in Billingborough and fields in Dunsby area.
A recent report to Lincolnshire County Council expressed hopes that the costs of making the Boston pumping station, which straddles the South Forty Foot Drain and The Haven, operational could be considered by Fens 2100.
This is a programme which is aimed to develop a Fens-wide flood resilience investment plan — with a series of reports highlighting the ‘potential investment’ required to manage the flood risk of the Fens.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “At the start of January 2025 we saw higher rainfall than forecast in Lincolnshire with snowmelt having also contributed to increased river levels.
“Following any flooding, we carry out an investigation into how our assets have performed so we can continuously improve our systems and ways of working. We will also work closely with the county council as it carries out a section 19 investigation in due course.
“Through a series of reports to be published in autumn this year, the Fens 2100+ programme will highlight the potential investment required to manage future flood risk within each catchment of the Fens.
“The Fens 2100 project is looking at possible options for mitigating flood risk well into the future. Currently there are no immediate plans to continue with pumped the outfall at Black Sluice Pumping station.”
Chief Executive of the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board Daniel Withnall has previously stated that the flooding of people’s homes in the Billingborough and Pointon area could have been prevented if the pumping station had been operational.
His comments had also been echoed by people and farmers living in the area.
