Loughton Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme

Loughton Brook from the air »

Loughton Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme was completed in December 1995. It was built to protect Loughton Town centre from flash flooding from the forested catchment area of the Loughton Brook. The reservoir is formed by an earth embankment 140 metres long varying in height from 0 to 8 metres A reinforced grass overtoppable section 50 metres long acts as a spillway for storms of an intensity greater than was designed for. There is a 0.9 metre pipe which forms an outlet which is controlled by a penstock valve to adjust the flow of water leaving the pond. The pond will store 47,200 cubic metres of water during storm conditions. The discharge from this pond is controlled by penstocks to ensure that the downstream watercourses can accommodate these flows and minimise the risks for residents.

A telemetry system has been installed to warn officers of Epping Forest District Council when levels reach a critical height and there is a risk that the spillway could overtop.

« The Outlet Structure

The pond is situated within Epping Forest and has been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest and home to an increasing population of wildlife.

There is also a purpose built dipping platform that is used for educational purposes by local schools.

 

Loughton Brook on a sunny day »

Not only is it protection against flooding for the residents of Loughton but also it has become an amenity, a very pleasant place to spend a sunny afternoon.

 The site is maintained as a nature reserve by Epping Forest Countrycare

Operation of the flood alleviation scheme is managed by the Land Drainage team

Thornwood Brook Flood Storage Area 

Thornwood Brook Flood Storage area was completed in 1998 as part of a two reservoir scheme to protect the village of Thornwood from flash flooding. One reservoir is owned and controlled by the Environment agency and is situated on the Cripsey Brook at Woodside, Thornwood. The other reservoir, situated at the end of Carpenters Arms Lane on the Thornwood Common Brook, is owned and operated by Epping Forest District Council.

Thornwood FSA from the air »

The reservoir is formed by a 150 metre long embankment, which has a maximum height of 1.8 metres. The reservoir will store 14,350 cubic metres of water during storm conditions. The discharge from these ponds is controlled by penstocks to ensure that the downstream watercourses can accommodate these flows and minimise the risks for residents.

« The Outlet Structure

A telemetry system has been installed to warn officers of Epping Forest District Council when levels reach a critical height and could cause overtopping of the spillway

To facilitate the discharge of water three culverts were constructed at Woodside, Weald Hall Place and the Old Council Depot, Weald Hall Lane.

 

 

 

 

Full bore discharge from the reservoir during heavy rainfall »

The area of Thornwood Common Brook is managed as a nature reserve by Epping Forest Countrycare to maintain it’s natural beauty and has now been designated as a Local Nature Reserve.

Operation of the flood alleviation scheme is managed by the Land Drainage team

Church Lane, North Weald

The Church Lane section of the North Weald Flood Alleviation Scheme was completed in 1990 to protect North Weald from flash flooding from the North Weald Brook. It consisted of a gravity bypass pipe diversion from an offtake structure at Station Road, running along Church Lane and discharging to the North Weald Brook downstream of the village and a flood storage reservoir with a large twin piped inlet structure at Church Lane to delay the passage of the water until the flows in the North Weald Brook subside. This is to protect the downstream residents and owners in times of very high flows.

Church Lane Reservoir from the air »

 

 

« The Inlet Structure

Epping Forest Countrycare manages the area of the reservoir very successfully and now many rare and unusual wild flowers now grow in the area, Church Lane Flood Storage Reservoir has now been classified as a Local Nature Reserve.

 

 

 

 

Church Lane Flood storage reservoir »

 

 

Operation of the flood alleviation scheme is managed by the Land Drainage team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

« Oxeye Daisy's at Church Lane reservoir

 

 

Thornhill, North Weald

The two storage ponds that make up the Thornhill section of the North Weald Flood Alleviation Scheme were completed in 1995 to protect North Weald from flooding caused by water running off the higher ground that used to be the Ongar Radio Station.

The ponds at Thornhill from the air »

New ditches and culverts were excavated and two storage ponds were constructed.

The outlet pipe from the southern pond discharges into the North Weald Brook near the Village Hall. The discharge from these ponds is controlled by penstocks to ensure that the downstream watercourses can accommodate these flows and minimise the risks for residents.

 

 

The Northern Pond »

The two ponds are capable of storing 6,300 cubic metres of water run-off during periods of heavy flow.

 

 

 

 

« The Southern Pond

The Northern pond was formed by excavation and the material excavated was used to construct a small dam across a valley to form the southern pond.

 

 

 

 

Maintenance work on the North Pond

Epping Forest Countrycare maintains the areas and they are now designated as Local Nature Reserves.

Operation of the flood alleviation scheme is managed by the Land Drainage team.

  

How a Flood Alleviation Scheme Works

For more information contact the Land drainage Team on 01992 564000