The work to restore flood protection to Matlock will take place between 7am on Tuesday 5 April, and 7am Thursday 7 April. To reduce erosion and limit damage caused by the collapsed private flood wall, Environment Agency flood wall, it will be lifted by a crane on the A6.
The Environment Agency has teamed up with Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, and Derbyshire Dales District Council in managing the flood risk from the River Derwent after a private wall collapsed behind businesses in Crown Square in Matlock in February.
The A6 will close from Matlock Bridge, just before the entrance to the bus station and train station entrances, during the main works. Traffic from the north and south will also be diverted over Matlock Bridge with traffic lights at Crown Square. Although delays are possible, this change will prevent northbound traffic from having to take a long diversion.
A footpath along the River Derwent will also close, with cyclists and pedestrians being diverted to the A6 pavement.
A survey team will be collecting valuable ground-level data to help with a long-term engineering solution. Weather permitting, the survey crew will be wading into the River Derwent and flying a drone along its river corridor on Monday, April 4.
A spokesperson for Environment Agency said:
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused by these works. We also thank the residents, businesses, and community for their patience as we carry out essential flood risk management work.
The rock-filled bags are temporary and work is ongoing to design a long-term engineering solution. To gather valuable geological information, this will require drilling 2 boreholes, one on each side of the river.
Our contractors will try to minimize any localized impacts from borehole drilling and other construction activities. We also want to assure the community, that our surveyors won’t film the riverside.
Further information
The Environment Agency’s flood wall was protected in the first stage. This involved removing trees near Matlock Bridge on Thursday, 24 March. Contractors could then work safely in the area.
The Environment Agency ordered Jackson Civil Engineering to immediately repair the private wall that fell in February. Jackson Civil Engineering used a large crane located on the A6 to place 50 rock-filled bags into the River Derwent. These emergency repairs were completed within 24 hours of collapse of the wall due to further high-water levels in the River Derwent.