Slad brook campaign update

SNJ story today copied below - Ruscombe Brook Action Group have fully supported the Slad group - indeed helped them a little when they set up - and through the Stroud Valleys Water Forum have tried to get action - the EA's failure to act seriously on all this does seem extraordinary. The floods were in 2007 and 4 years on we still don't have any real actions.


Campaigners 'disappointed and disillusioned' with flood plan's slow progress

CAMPAIGNERS have accused the Environment Agency of making slow progress over plans to address flood risk levels in Stroud. Members of Slad Brook Action Group said they are ‘disappointed and disillusioned’ with the latest findings of the EA’s report into the issue, which has been in the making since the mass floods of 2007.

"I am disappointed that after four years we have not made much progress and people are still at risk of flooding," said group chairman and Green Gloucestershire county councillor Sarah Lunnon. It is a tricky nut to crack but we have to address the problem and find a solution."

She added that the agency’s recommendations seem only to maintain current risk levels, rather than actually improving them.

Secretary Sandy Coulborn, who became involved with the group after friends of hers were affected by the 2007 floods, added: "We are bitterly disappointed and disillusioned. It is not satisfactory and does not reduce the flood risk one bit. The threat of people’s homes being flooded is still immense and that means what happened in 2007 could happen all over again."

The EA’s remit has been to investigate feasible flood alleviation works in the River Frome catchment area, which includes Slad Brook and Painswick Stream.

The knock-on effect of added run-off flowing into Slad Brook is the increased risk of floods further downstream, particularly in Bridgend, near Stonehouse, where a second action group – Bridgend Residents Against River Frome Flooding (BARFF) – has been active since 2008.

A spokesman for the EA said the fact that Slad Brook flows through a narrow, steep-sided valley, coupled with a lack of natural flood plain meant there was no single solution to dealing with the issue.

Instead, it recommends encompassing a range of measures over a longer time scale, including maintenance of watercourses, which in Stroud have been heavily modified over the years, thus increasing flood risks.

Another measure the EA is taking is to offer surveys and flood protection grants to safeguard properties from up to 900mm of flood water.

Cllr Lunnon said she was determined to keep raising the issue with colleagues in Shire Hall and the EA to find a solution. She added that she also plans to work more closely with Stroud town councillors to garner their expertise.

Dave Graham from GCC said the authority was working closely with the EA, Stroud District Council and water management organisation Water 21 to find the best possible solution for properties at risk.

Natural Flood Management paper out

There is just out a new summary of what is meant by "Natural Flood Management" published by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology or POST. It is an excellent guide to the various techniques and their potential effectiveness, plus it contains case studies too. Its quite short and fairly untechnical, so it should be reasonably accessible.

Natural flood management, defined here as the alteration, restoration or  use of landscape features, is being promoted as a novel way of reducing flood risk and fits with what we are arguing for in the Stroud Valleys. This POST note reviews the policy drivers of this approach,  as well as the scientific basis, and implementation, of inland natural  flood management strategies. Download from: http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/documents/policy_documents/POSTNOTE_396_Natural_Flood_Management.pdf

Revisiting our constitution!

Ruscombe Brook Summer 2011

The Stroud Valleys Water Forum is discussing whether to have a constitution and if so what shape that might take. Below is a copy of RBAGs which was on our originally website but seems to have slipped off when we launched this new site so here it is.....

RUSCOMBE BROOK ACTION GROUP: CONSTITUTION

This constitution was adopted on 6th July 2005.

1. The group shall be called the Ruscombe Brook Action Group

2. The aims of the group are to enable our community to maximise the quality and biodiversity of the Ruscombe Brook.

3. To fulfill this aim: (a) undertake an assessment of the problems related to the brook, (b) raise awareness about the issues relating to water quality of the brook, (c) work with others to find ways to improve water quality and reduce flooding, (d) other activities that further the aims or for the benefit of the group, shall be undertaken from time to time as the members see fit.

4. The area served is principally Randwick and Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parishes, but projects and the members may undertake activities elsewhere as seen fit.

5. Membership

- The membership shall be open to anyone interested in the work of the group and pays the membership fee (amended Sept 2009 to 'The membership shall be open to anyone interested in the work of the group and registers as a member with the secretary of the group').

- The treasurer will keep a register of members names and addresses (amended Sept 2009 to 'The treasurer and/or secretary will keep a register of members names and addresses ').

- Membership can be terminated if a member dies, resigns by written notice, fails to pay membership dues or the organisation ceases. A member can also be removed by a resolution at a meeting, if this is in the best interests of the organisation. The resolution can only be passed if the member has been given 21 days notice and the member or their representative has been given the opportunity to make representations to the meeting.

6. The group will hold regular meetings organised by elected officers of the group, to discuss policy and administration of the Ruscombe Brook Action Group. All members shall be entitled to attend, and these meetings will be publicised. An annual general meeting will be held each year and not more than 15 months may elapse between successive annual general meetings. Individuals who are not members of the group can be invited to attend group meetings if their participation is seen as being in line with the group's aims and by agreement from the group. However these 'guests' will not have voting rights.

7. For group meetings to be held a minimum of three group members must be present making the meeting quorate ie having the necessary number of people present to allow decisions to be made.

8. Such officers shall be appointed as are required to conduct the administration of the organisation. These shall include a chair, secretary and treasurer. These officers shall be in charge of the day to day running of the organisation, but shall be answerable to meetings of members.

9. The accounts shall be kept by the treasurer and approved at members’ meetings. Before the Annual General Meeting groups accounts will have to be drawn up in collaboration with the Chair.

10. If the group shall by consent of it’s members, cease to exist, all assets shall pass to the Ruscombe Valley Action Group, and if they have ceased to exist, to the Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish Council.

Next meeting: 4th October

Our next meeting will be a walk of the Randwwick tributary followed by a trip to the Crown Inn at Park End.

Meet at the entrance to More Hall Convent at 7pm. We aim to be at the Crown Inn around 8pm.

Contact Jo or Philip for more information.

Sewer repairs underway near Ruscombe Brook - at last!!

Article sent to Randwick Runner:

Severn Trent has finally started works to repair and strengthen a stretch of sewer near Ruscombe Brook to reduce the risk of sewage flooding into the watercourse. Over the years the sewer which runs near to the brook has become infested with tree roots - cracking the pipework and allowing sewage to escape from the system. In 2005/6 there were so many very serious incidents of raw sewage getting into the brook and local fields that it was one of the key factors that led to the formation of the Ruscombe Brook Action Group (RBAG).

Over the years RBAG has tackled many issues relating to the brook from the flooding at Puckshole, getting a private sewer adopted to improving the biodiversity. We have worked with local schools, organised clean-ups, walked the brook to identify issues, worked with Masters degree students on projects re the brook, printed information leaflets, delivered fat traps, organised four large seminars at Ebley Mill which included Professor Hugh Barr on sewage and many other experts on improving watercourses. RBAG was also instrumental in setting up the Stroud Valleys Water Forum that meets bi-monthly with other action groups to look at wider catchment issues re flooding like the Slad Valley and Brigend that faces regular flooding of homes.

One of our key areas of work has been to engage with Severn Trent water and we have met with them fairly regularly over the years. At first they considered there was not a problem but when sewage incidents continued to occur they undertook lengthy investigations to identify the problems. One of the key ones is that fine roots seek out small cracks in the sewer and push their way into the network where they can grow into a major problem. For the last years Severn Trent has been cutting the roots to stop a reoccurence of the sewage incidents. This was clearly only a temporary solution so we have continued to push for a longer term solution.

RBAG were delighted when last year Severn Trent finally came up with a proposal for replacing some sewers. However since then they have had a change of staff and remodelled the network to show that relining would work. This is clearly the most efficient and least intrusive way of resolving the problem ie remotely cut back the roots in the pipework are remotely cut back then a new lining is added in the sewer - sealing the cracks and preventing roots from pushing their way into the network. The lining is specially strengthened to prevent further root intrusion for the next 100 years. RBAG have some concerns that this might be the cheeper option rather than the best option, but we will have to monitor the situation.

Mark Broomfield, programme engineer for Severn Trent, commented to the local press: "We know that Ruscombe Brook and the wildlife that depends on it is important to the community. Our aim is to ensure water quality in the brook remains high, while causing minimum disruption to residents. Even though there will be no road closures and customers will be able to continue to use the system as normal while work is going on, residents will notice more vehicles in the area. "If anyone has questions or concerns about the work that needs to be done they can contact Severn Trent on 0800 783 4444."

I was also quoted as a spokesperson for the Ruscombe Brook Action Group, saying: "We are delighted that sections of the sewer  are at last being relined. We welcome these moves by Severn Trent and their willingness to find solutions to the problems faced here. We look forward to further work in the future to continue to improve the outdated sewage system and at present we are also working on ways to further improve the biodiversity of the brook."

I was generous in my quote with Severn Trent as at times it has been quite a battle to get things done. Local landowner Julia Currie has been particularly good at negotiating with Severn Trent - she has had numerous additional discussions and meetings regarding the proposals. Work is expected to continue on site until mid October.

Huge thanks to all in RBAG who have made this possible. If anyone locally is interested in getting involved please do contact us.

A toilet without water

The Gates Foundation has just announced a $42 million project over several years to develop a toilet that doesn't need water, mains power or sewerage and that will cost next to nothing. Joseph Jenkins, a long-time proponent of ‘humanure’ - composting of human waste until safe enough for vegetable gardening - says 'the Gates Foundation and most in the international sanitation community are stuck in the old paradigm, which is the belief that our excrement is waste and needs to be disposed of in one way or another.  But at least the search is on...See here.

Sewer relining to start at last!!

The SNJ will report tomorrow news re the relining of our sewer - I've copied it below. I was generous in my quote with Severn Trent as at times it has been quite a battle to get things done - and as noted on this blog before, we, in the Ruscombe Brook Action Group, are not wholly convinced that relining is the answer. Indeed at one point in earlier meetings with STW they had said the sewer capacity was insufficient and it needed changing. Apparently remodelling shows relining will be sufficient - let's hope so - and as I said in the quote STW have on the whole tried to work with us.

Sewer repairs underway near Ruscombe Brook

SEVERN Trent has this week started works to repair and strengthen a stretch of sewer near Ruscombe Brook to reduce the risk of sewage flooding into the watercourse. Over the years the sewer which runs near to the brook has become infested with tree roots - cracking the pipework and allowing sewage to escape from the system.

Fine roots seek out small cracks in the sewer and push their way into the network where they can grow into a major problem. The most efficient and least intrusive way of resolving the problem is to remotely cut back the roots in the pipework then add a new lining in the sewer - sealing the cracks and preventing roots from pushing their way into the network.

The lining is specially strengthened to prevent further root intrusion for the next 100 years. Work is expected to continue on site until mid October.

Mark Broomfield, programme engineer for Severn Trent, said: "We know that Ruscombe Brook and the wildlife that depends on it is important to the community. Our aim is to ensure water quality in the brook remains high, while causing minimum disruption to residents. Even though there will be no road closures and customers will be able to continue to use the system as normal while work is going on, residents will notice more vehicles in the area. "If anyone has questions or concerns about the work that needs to be done they can contact Severn Trent on 0800 783 4444."

Philip Booth, a spokesman for the Ruscombe Brook Action Group, that was formed over five years ago in response to incidents of sewage seeping into the brook, added: "We are delighted that sections of the sewer are at last being relined. We welcome these moves by Severn Trent and their willingness to find solutions to the problems faced here. We look forward to further work in the future to continue to improve the outdated sewage system and at present we are also working on ways to further improve the biodiversity of the brook."

Sewer lining set for July/August

Randwick Parish 1842 with brook marked

Major sewer relining by Severn Trent water will take place along the brook incl the fields above Puckshole for about 4 weeks in July/August. We have been assured that the lining lasts for 100 year! See previous discussion on sewer lining here. Dates for the lower sections have not been confirmed yet.

Ruscombe brook: walk highlights action areas

Just over a month ago the Ruscombe Brook Action Group walked the top half of the brook. We gained permission from the relevant landowners as we do each year to check out problems, improvements etc. It was a great evening where I learnt lots.


Last year we walked with FWAG - that's the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and it is the UK's leading independent provider of environmental advice to farmers - see that walk here. This time we had a new group member who works with water and conservation - he was able to add to the advice and info we had gained last year.

Photos from walk in May of the top half of the brook.


Last night we met again to discuss what we found on the walk and our next steps. We have drawn up a list of 4 target issues to consider further. It is good to have some renewed enthusiasm and focus for the group as we have drifted a bit over the last 6 months.

Also good news is that the relining of sewers is imminent. Severn Trent have contacted several local landowners and will soon be giving dates to start. It has only taken us since 2006 to get this to happen!!

Having said that the yearly root cutting of roots that have grown into sewers has led to almost no raw sewage incidents - what a difference from 2005/6 when there were some 20 plus incidents.


You can read more about our project at:
http://www.rbag.org.uk/

Or for even more read over 130 entries on Philip Booth's blog re Ruscombe Brook here.

New waterways charity

So the new Trustees have been appointed for the new waterways charity - see Defra here. So what to think about it? British Waterways is to go. The briefing below is by Chris Borg at the National Association of Local Councils and is a useful introduction if not familiar with the issues. There are huge liabilities and huge costs....

Here is one RBAG member comment: "On the one hand it’s a similar argument to the forests, but entrusting the property as an endowment is significant and setting management of the waterways free of state control could open up new possibilities. I see the work of charities like the National Trust being comparable. They are for the people without the trappings of government. I know some in the charity sector are worried about the increased competition for charitable donations if this new body comes into being – that is a concern but shows also that this has potential to be a strong proposition for philanthropists and grant giving trusts. After a very brief read through I’m broadly in favour."

Another RBAG comment: "I have real concerns about long term funding.....will this mean the new body will be forced to sell off large parts in order to keep running? I believe the state has an important role to play not least financially - the EA is already not powerful enough."

See The Waterways Project response to the consultation here. Vote here for a name for the new charity. Current polling shows:

• National Waterways Trust (39%)
• British Waterways (37%)
• British Waterways Trust (33%)
• Waterways Trust (26%)
• Waterways of Britain (20%)

Briefing - click read more

Fish spotted!

I have just been copied into correspondence further down the brook - not as far as Hamwell Leaze - well exciting news is that for the first time in a while there are fish  - at least five male sticklebacks, each with its own territory have been spotted.

See photos - as the email says: "it seems to mark a milestone in the improved quality of the brook". Indeed - our recent walk also showed improvements but still lots that can be done to further improve.

Ruscombe Brook talk on video

We've had a couple of RBAG meetings but wanted to note this video link - I blogged about speaking last year at the University of West of England conference 'Learning to Live with Water: Flood histories, Environmental Change, Remembrance and Resilience' (see here) - well now you can see the video - was told I had half the time I thought - hence even faster than usual! See: http://flashmedia.glos.ac.uk/resources-general/videos/flood_heritage/philip_booth.mp4

My talk was about the Ruscombe Brook Action Group - it is worth seeing the other talks that are also listed - see here: http://www.glos.ac.uk/research/csfc/lfh/Pages/workshop.aspx

Amongst the presentations and videos you can see Stroud-based artist, Fiona Meadley's video of her talk here.

The Lawns gets a make-over!

Below is how Stroud Life reported on news re The Lawns which is where the Ruscombe Brook flows into...

Numbers come up to save oasis in urban jungle

STROUD Community Land Trust has won an £81,000 National Lottery grant to restore the Lake at the Lawn to its former glory. The charity is planning to convert the two-hectare pleasure grounds of a long-lost Victorian mansion into a haven for people and wildlife.

The Lawn stood as an impressive, nine-bedroomed country house on the border of Stroud and Cainscross 100 years ago. It stretched to the Stroudwater Navigation and included a boating lake and boathouse, terraced walks, brook, walled garden, stables, fish ponds and arboretum. The house was bought by the county council and demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Cainscross roundabout. Its gardens and lake have fallen into disrepair ever since.

Amid fears that it would soon be lost forever, the Stroud Community Land Trust secured a long-term lease on the site four years ago and plans were drawn up for its restoration. The lake is the only project in Gloucestershire to win cash from the Big Lottery Fund's £57.5million Community Spaces programme.

It will be transformed over the next 16 months thanks to the £81,022 grant. The restoration of old orchards, garden wall, fish ponds and pathways will be completed in partnership with Stroud Valleys Project and community groups. The funding will allow improvements to the lake's drainage system and public access, planting of specimen tress and habitat creation.

"This site is a rare natural gem," said Stroud mayor Coun Andy Read, who is project manager for the Land Trust. It is one of only two public green spaces serving more than 6,000 people in Cainscross. Our survey of surrounding households showed massive support for plans to restore it to its former glory. One resident described it as 'an oasis in an urban jungle'."

The garden is on the site of an old millpond, rumoured to date back to 1100, which once fed Canalside Mill, the lowest of five on the Ruscombe Brook. Research has shown it was still working as a corn mill in 1882. The trust has already raised £10,000 from BBC's Breathing Places Big Lottery Fund to plan and research the project. When the work is done a further £10,000 of Big Lottery money will be available to manage it. The project has been funded through the Community Spaces grants programme which is being managed by Groundwork UK as an Award Partner to the Big Lottery Fund.