Environment Agency say contractors are ‘planning’ to start work on repairs to Cowbit and Crowland Wash this week

Work are finally due to start repairing a breached river bank - nearly eight months after it first collapsed.

The Environment Agency says its contractors are ‘planning’ to start work on the long-awaited repairs to the Cowbit and Crowland Washes within the coming days.

There has been a large hole in the bank of the River Welland, on the outskirts of Crowland, since January when the waterway was swollen due to the influx of rain brought by Storm Henk.

Calls have been made from anglers, sailors and nearby farmers for the agency to get on with the work due to delays caused by nesting birds.

A spokesman from the Environment Agency said: “We estimate it will take approximately nine weeks to repair the two breaches and the area of bank that has slipped.”

“Our framework contractors will be delivering the repair. The repair will involve installing compacted clay to fill the void. Geogrid will be added to provide additional reinforcement to the bank slope before it is finished with topsoil and grass seed.

“Whilst the main breach is being repaired, we will need to lower water levels in the River Welland for approximately two weeks to allow the repair work to be undertaken. The levels will be restored as soon as possible.”

What do you think? Post a comment below…