Curry Moor Flood Storage Area - Announcement Of Intention Not To Prepare An Environmental Statement

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTENTION NOT TO PREPARE
AN ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Regulation 5 of the 
Environmental Impact Assessment Land Drainage 
Improvement Works (Amended) Regulations 1999 SI 1999/1783
Curry Moor Flood Storage Area Measures In the Interests of Safety (MIOS)

The Environment Agency gives notice that it proposes to carry out essential public safety works, known as ‘Measures in the Interests of Safety’ or ‘MIOS’ in the Curry Moor Flood Storage Area (FSA) (NGR ST 32998 27395), near Curload in the district of Somerset West and Taunton. The Environment Agency is required to undertake the MIOS works before July 2025, in accordance with its obligations under the Reservoirs Act 1975.

The proposed MIOS works will involve the following:
MIOS 4 Hay Moor Siphon Screen
• Construction of accesses and areas of hardstanding;
• Damming of the existing connection between the northern and southern banks of the River Tone;
• Excavation of the existing structure and removal of the screen and concrete headwall;
• Deep piling, approx. 10-12m long down to rock and potentially 1-2m into rock.
• In-channel concrete works for the construction of a new box culvert section, the tie-in to the existing structure and a new inlet structure;
• Installation of penstock valve, precast stepped access for maintenance and a two-stage trash screen and associated working platforms;
• Installation of Hydrometry and Telemetry (H&T) kiosk, including associated provisions; and
• Installation of fencing, handrails and gates for safety purposes during operation.
MIOS 8a Athelney Spillway
• Construction of temporary trackway access and establishment of temporary construction compound;
• Permanent removal of 150m of hedgerow;
• The stripping, storage and redeposition onto the spillway and grading of formation to level;
• Installation of Armoflex Blocks, concrete beams and geotextile;
• Installation of cellular concrete mats (Figure 2-1);
• Reinstatement, raking and seeding of stored topsoil over the concrete mats; and
• Installation of pipework sockets and fencing.
MIOS 8b Banklands Wall
• Construction compound establishment;
• Topsoil stripping and storage;
• Excavation and removal of existing land drains and associated manholes;
• Construction of new French drains using geotextile pipe bedding and 200mm perforated pipes;
• Construction of 0.3 m crest bund formed from 2A/2C laid and compacted in layers; and
• Importation of approximately 12,000m3 of suitable infill material to reprofile the existing overtopping spillway.
MIOS 8c Cuts Road
• Removal of trees and vegetation;
• Removal of blacktop from the car park;
• Construction of new concrete revetment slope using fin drain and weep hole pipes, Type 1 and concrete;
• Overhead line services redirection;
• Extension of the existing steel bar estate fence line; and
• Reinstatement of carpark.

The MIOS are intended to restore the FSA to safe operation in accordance with its existing flood management functions. They are not intended to change the function or operation of the FSA in any way.
The MIOS works will be delivered under the Environment Agency’s Permitted Development rights, as conferred by The Town and Country Planning Act (General Permitted Development (England) Order 2015 (Part 13, Class D).
The MIOS works have been assessed by environmental specialists in ecology, heritage/archaeology, landscape, water, etc., who have worked actively with scheme engineers and the Principal Contractor to incorporate proposed environmental mitigation measures into the temporary and permanent works design. The Environment Agency has therefore concluded that considers that the improvement works are not likely to have significant effects on the environment and has not produced does not intend to prepare an environmental statement in respect of them.
In addition, an Environmental Action Plan (EAP) has been developed for this project to ensure that environmental risks are well managed before, during and after construction. An Environmental Clerk of Works (EnCoW) has been appointed to monitor the project’s performance against the requirements of the EAP and to ensure that the mitigation measures specified have been implemented in full.

Any person wishing to make representations in relation to the likely environmental effects of the proposed MIOS works should do so, in writing, to the address specified below or by email, within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice.

Clement Okundonor CEng C.WEM MCIWEM, Project Manager, Environment Agency, Manley House, Kestrel Way, Exeter EX2 7LQ
currymoorreservoir@environment-agency.gov.uk