News / Environment
Impact of flood defence work would be ‘devastating’
Nature lovers say the loss of 500 poplar trees and more than two miles of hedgerow along the Severn Estuary for a flood defence scheme would be “devastating”.
More than 1,300 people have backed Lisa Pretland’s petition against the action, which she claims is unnecessary because the bank could be raised “without such damage”.
The work is meant to help unlock the potential of the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area and benefit the area.
is needed now More than ever
Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area
Project leaders South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council and the Environment Agency say raising the bank in this location is the only option.
They say the scheme will reduce the risk of flooding and create a wetland habitat to protect the internationally important habitats and species of the Severn Estuary site.
Lisa said: “The Environment Agency need to raise the existing flood bank on the coastal path between New Passage and Aust, however, to do this they plan to destroy 500 magnificent poplar trees that line the coast and can be seen from Wales on the skyline.
“They also plan to remove 2.4 miles of hedgerow – just so they can raise a grass bank by a metre or so.
“The trees and hedgerow have been there since the 1980s. They form a significant coastal pathway feature.
“They are full of life, housing rare birds and bats and act as a perch for hunting birds such as kestrels, owls and buzzards.
“There is no need for such devastating action. We’ve achieved a tree protection order on the trees – a big win in the interim, but this is not enough to save them completely. It raises their profile on the plans so mitigators have to be considered, but we need more.
“We need this petition signed so the council understand the strength of feeling.”
In a joint statement, South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council and the Environment Agency said the loss of the trees was regrettable but they are reaching the end of their lifetimes, and they will be replaced.
They said: “We are working alongside ecological experts to ensure a thriving environment will be established in the area for people and wildlife to last the rest of this century and beyond.
“From an ecological perspective, we are creating at least 80 hectares of new wetland habitat to help protect the internationally important bird species that live on the Severn Estuary.
“The planning application for the project will include an Environmental Statement which will record all of the potential impacts, the options considered in the design, and the proposed mitigation to minimise and offset harm.
“This is intended to demonstrate the least harmful option has been selected, taking into consideration all of the practical, policy and delivery constraints presented.”
The project partners said the flood banks could not be widened out to sea because the saltmarsh is legally protected, while doing it inland to avoid the poplar would run through a landfill and expose the trees to saltwater at high tides.
The flood defences are intended to help to encourage businesses to invest in the Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area, helping to support the creation of 12,000 new jobs by 2026.
They will also reduce the flood risk to 2,500 homes and businesses, now and into the future by taking into account climate change.
The partners added: “We will use the economic benefits resulting from this project to continue to provide the best ecological future for the estuary.”
Main photo: Lisa Pretland with Jack Lopresti, the MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke
Stephen Sumner is a local democracy reporter for South Gloucestershire
Read more: Bristol’s wildlife sites under threat
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