PLANS to protect Woodford Green from floods could increase the risk of the river Roding bursting its banks upstream in Ongar, the Environment Agency (EA) has admitted.
As part of strategy to prevent flooding, river maintenance activities would be reduced where officials estimate that the cost of providing the service outweighs the benefits.
In a recent consultation document, outlining the plans to residents, the EA state: “A small number of properties, especially in the northern part of the catchment, will either be at increased risk or remain at high risk of flooding after we carry out our recommendations.”
They claim that reducing maintenance work will “allow the river to act more naturally and flow more slowly in some places.”
This would result in less water travelling downstream to Redbridge and an increased risk of floods in Fyfield and Birds Green, just north of Ongar.
This is because silt would not be cleared from the river bed, building up in to dams and causing the river to burst its banks.
The documents also states that properties near Shonks Mill Bridge, in Stanford Rivers, where there are plans to create a floodplain, could also be placed at greater risk.
Phillip Gadd has lived in Tile House farm on the banks of the river in Birds Green for 64 years.
When serious floods struck Fyfield in 2007 he was trapped in his Landrover, knocked out by the force of the water and dragged to safety by neighbours.
MrGadd, who is 66, said: “If the flood water was to increase by two inches we would get water in our houses. I can assure you that it is critical up here.
“The river bed is silted up by something like 12 inches. It is as important to clear that as introduce defences downriver.
“We should at least be told more about what is going on and how it might affect us.”
Tony Walker, 70, is the landlord of the Black Bull pub in Fyfield.
He said: “If the water comes up any more there will be a few houses here that will be in trouble.
“It would be nice if we could get some more protection from these plans as well.”
“It is a real worry.”
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