18 December 2023
Progress and news update
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Joint message from the lead project partners
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With Passage Road now reopened to traffic, we’ve made significant progress on the ASEA Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project since we last wrote to you.
With much of the work remaining being landscaping and finishing works, we’re nearing completion of major sections of the project, ready for handover. Once finished in 2026/27, the project will provide 17km of new and improved flood defences, reducing flood risk to around 2,500 homes and businesses and helping unlock 12,000 new jobs for the West of England.
In this edition of our newsletter, you can read about:
1. Local routes being reopened
2. Bird watchers spotting rare owls along Passage Road
3. South Gloucestershire Council cabinet members' visit to the project
4. Refurbished eel spring retarders at our tidal gates
5. Progress updates for each area of the project
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Nicola Beech
Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Resilience and Flood Strategy
Bristol City Council
Dan Norris
West of England Mayor
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Cllr Louise Harris
Cabinet Member for Climate
and Nature Emergency
South Gloucestershire Council
Emma Baker
Area Director
Environment Agency
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While we constructed flood ramps and other structures to deliver vital flood defences, we had to close part of Passage Road to through traffic. In September, we reopened the road to vehicles and cyclists. Therefore, the diversion routes for vehicles and cyclists no longer apply apart from during flood gate closure due to high tide conditions.
We may need to temporarily reclose the road for a short time to complete some minor outstanding works. If this happens, please follow the diversion routes we put in place.
We are preparing to open the section of the England Coastal Path between Aust and Severn Beach before the Christmas break. We may need to temporarily close the path again in the spring to complete some drainage and other finishing work. In the meantime, we hope people can enjoy some coastal winter walks.
Read more about remaining diversions and closures
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Bird watchers enjoy the view
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Now that Passage Road has reopened to the public, the area is attracting bird watchers keen to spot rare species. With sightings of short-eared owls in this lowland coastal habitat, we’re pleased to see wildlife settling into – and thriving in – the project area.
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Bird watchers on Passage Road, 20 November 2023
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Council Cabinet members visit project
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Members of South Gloucestershire Council’s new cabinet visited the ASEA Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project in September to learn about the project and see its significant progress for themselves. The five councillors from the new administration enjoyed a minibus tour of key project sites in South Gloucestershire between Severn Beach and Aust.
We are planning to host Bristol City Council Cabinet members in a site visit in the new year.
Read more about the visit
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South Gloucestershire Council cabinet members at Severn Beach
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Endangered eels continue their journey
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Eel migration is going swimmingly in local water outfalls thanks to steps taken by the project team to support them. The team has been busy upgrading eel spring retarders at tidal gates at outfalls across the 17km project, including Cake Pill, Chestle Pill and New Pill tidal outfalls in South Gloucestershire. This mechanism slows closure of the gate, allowing a longer period for eels to pass through as part of their migration.
Read the story
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An eel spring retarder installed at one of the project’s tidal gates
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Passage Road area to New Passage
What’s happened
We have constructed a new flood wall at Aust Wharf Road and installed flood gates at the north end of Aust Wharf Road, Passage Road, and New Passage. As part of the work, we’ve also installed a section of a filter drainage system at Passage Road and raised the earth flood embankment next to it.
Work to raise sections of the road to tie in with the new defences is now complete. In September we were able to reopen the road to vehicles. Landscaping works on the verges and flood embankments are now taking place as part of our maintenance phase.
We’ve raised the outfall structures at Cake Pill, Chestle Pill and Cotteralls Pill and have completed the New Passage flood defence wall and glass panels. Improvements to existing earth embankments which run from Cake Pill to Cotteralls Pill are also complete.
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Area of landscape planting next to the Passage Road flood embankment
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What’s next?
We will install the necessary equipment to improve the three flood gates’ opening mechanisms in spring 2024. Until then, the gates will be operated by hand in the event a flood is forecast.
At Northwick Warth we are installing an additional drainage ditch on the landward side of the new flood embankment. This ditch will reduce water collecting in the fields on the landward side of the embankment. These works have started, but are on hold until spring 2024 as the area is currently too wet to work in.
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What’s happened
The new precast flood defence walls to the north and south of Severn Beach are complete and we have reopened footpaths throughout the area. We have also reseeded the embankment area next to the new wall at Riverside Park.
To the south, near Chittening on the seaward side of the railway, we have completed the sheet-piled flood defence wall and installed habitat shelves.
At New Pill Outfall, we are refurbishing and reinstalling flap closing mechanism equipment and have refurbished the eel-friendly flap closing mechanism.
Landscaping works throughout this area are complete and we have now entered our maintenance period.
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What’s next?
Between Severn Beach South and New Pill, we are continuing with finishing works, including improvements to the mechanical and electrical apparatus at New Pill Outfall. We plan to keep the footpath open throughout these works.
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Avonmouth Docks & Lamplighter’s Marsh
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What’s happened
We have completed most of the work at the outfall structures within the port and River Avon flood defences are almost complete.
At Chittening Warth, we have completed earthworks to construct the flood embankment between Stupp Pill and Mitchells Salt outfalls. South of Holes Mouth outfall, we have placed fill material onto the flood embankment.
Along the Port Road, we have completed the installation of the precast concrete flood wall and built a section of reinforced concrete wall that will incorporate existing pipelines into the flood defence.
At Lamplighter’s Marsh, we have completed the new concrete flood defence wall and completed a new maintenance access track for National Highways under the M5 bridge. We have also installed a twin leaf flood gate at the entrance of Lamplighter’s Marsh. We have reinstated the footpath and surfacing. We have also reinstated fencing to secure Bristol City Council’s compound beneath the M5 bridge.
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Outfall structure raised at Stupp Pill, Chittening Warth
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What’s next
We will continue to work on the reinstatement of Port Road including the drainage which should be complete in spring 2024.
We will be importing and placing further rock armour to protect Holes Mouth Outfall. Earthworks will restart in spring 2024 on the estuary side of the sheet piled flood defence wall, around the perimeter of the Esso fuel depot.
Along the River Avon we will be completing the flood defences next to Avonbank Industrial Estate. We will commission the flood gate and complete landscaping works on the flood embankment at Lamplighter's Marsh.
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What’s happened
At both Hallen Marsh and Northwick Wetlands we have been progressing landscaping works and planting is now complete. We have finished all ditch crossings and flow control structures. We have installed new water mains and water troughs across Hallen Marsh.
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What’s next
We will be reinstalling water supplies across the main site at Northwick and installing new water troughs. This has been delayed by the need to obtain a new Great Crested Newt license, which demonstrates the habitats’ success in supporting wildlife.
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At the end of July, we reopened the footpaths between Severn Beach and New Pill. We are continuing to work closely with Natural England and South Gloucestershire Council to install footpath signage in the Severn Beach area.
At Lamplighter’s Marsh, the new footpath alignment through the flood gate has opened. The flood gate will not be fully functional until at least spring 2024 when it is commissioned.
Passage Road has now been reopened, although some minor works to the flood gates will be completed in 2024.
The new King Charles III England Coast Path in the Northwick Warth area is opening this winter, with possible short-term closure in the spring for drainage work.
Read more on road and temporary footpath closures
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Engaging with you
We continue to meet regularly with representatives from local community groups through our Community Forum. Our last meeting took place on 5 September, and our next meeting will be held in the new year.
If your community group would like to visit the project, please get in touch at aseaproject@jbp.co.uk
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Unlocking future economic growth
A key purpose of the flood defences is to enable the mix of industrial and former industrial areas and other sites in ASEA to become viable for commercial development and generate 12,000 new jobs by 2026. You can find out more about this potential opportunity in our short video.
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Our website
Visit our website for the latest news and project progress as well as other important updates.
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