Specialist Machinery Drafted In As Flood Prevention Work Continues

Specialist machinery has been drafted in to complete flood prevention work on the River Welland in Market Harborough.

It is to enable dredging and de-silting to take place in hard to reach areas, including under the bridges on Kettering Road and Northampton Road.

The work, being carried out by contractors Ebsford Environmental, on behalf of The Environment Agency, started last month, but had to be suspended because of bad weather.

A machine called a ‘Truxor’ was being used yesterday and tomorrow a ‘Spider Digger’ will be in use.

Vegetation has also been cleared to help improve the flow of the river, after the water level reached dangerously high levels during continued rain earlier this month and in January.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The Environment Agency is carrying out routine dredging work identified last summer on the River Welland in Market Harborough, to maximise river flow around road bridges.

“Dredging is one part of our flood-risk management options. However, not all locations are suitable for dredging – understanding where dredging will and won’t work is key. We consider each location carefully, carrying it out where we have evidence it will make a justifiable difference.”

The ‘Truxor’ in use on the River Welland near the Northampton Road bridge
PIC: ANDY CARPENTER

The ‘Truxor’ in use on the River Welland at the Northampton Road bridge
PIC: ANDY CARPENTER