Posted on May 11, 2021
The River Welland around Spalding will be dredged for the first time in decades after a councillor raised flooding fears.
Weston parish councillor Ian Pennington lives on Spalding Marsh next to the River Welland – and has grown concerned about the amount of silt building up.
He said that the river has only been dredged once since 1948 in this area and would like to see the work carried out again so that the water course can continue to be safe.
He said: “It’s about time it was done again in my opinion. It’s been done once in 72 years.”
Coun Pennington said that other instances of flooding in the county should serve of a reminder of the importance of dredging the Welland for the first time in about 40 years.
When Boston was struck with widespread flooding in late 2013, the Welland’s water was just a metre from the top of the bank.
Coun Pennington added: “The warning signs are there.”
At a recent meeting of Weston Parish Council, Coun Pennington had raised fears that the amount of building in the area – including properties going up the other side of Stamford – was putting extra pressure on the river.
He believes action now can help to reduce the risk of flooding for Spalding.
A survey was carried out on the river in 2019 by the Environment Agency and councillors had been eagerly awaiting the results.
MP Sir John Hayes had also promised to raise the matter.
The EA has now said its survey does support Coun Pennington’s call for dredging work to be carried out – with plans for two separate projects in the next two years.
A spokesman from the Environment Agency said: “Dredging is an important part of our maintenance programme.
“We consider each location carefully and only do it where we know it will make a difference.
“A recent survey we carried out indicated that part of the River Welland would benefit from desilting work.
“This will be carried out this year downstream of the confluence with the River Glen, then upstream towards the Spalding.
“We aim to dredge upstream to Spalding next year.”
It’s not yet know when the work will be carried out.
