Work to rebuild Tenbury collapsed wall starting next week

Worcestershire County Council said the construction work will start on the new wall in Market Street in the town on the Shropshire-Worcestershire border on Monday (Feb24). 

The wall has been the focus criticism from traders and residents after it crumbled due to the from the sheer force of flood water from the nearby Kyre Brook resulting in the surge that damaged businesses and other properties in the vicinity during Storm Bert.

Tenbury representative Councillor David Chambers said: “It’s great that the county council is getting this wall rebuilt and supporting the business owners and residents who will be incredibly relieved.

"It’s important that we’re all clear that neither the old structure nor the new one are flood defences and the brook will still find its way onto Market Street, but at least at a much slower rate.

 "I continue to lobby for the full Environment Agency flood defence scheme to be constructed but that at best this will continue to be delayed and I support construction of the new wall and any other measures which will help to reduce the terrible impact of flooding in Tenbury.”    

Worcestershire's environment  boss Councillor Emma Stoke said: ‘‘I’m delighted that a we are is stepping in to replace this wall and I hope it encourages the Environment Agency to act promptly to bring a flood defence scheme to Tenbury.”

 “The collapse of the wall has caused such anguish in the town and there has been considerable frustration about the delay. However, it’s important that these things are done properly and that county council officers and their colleagues in the Environment Agency continue to work together to make this happen," Councillor Stoke added.

 The council also said it was not being possible to identify the owner of the wall, but it wanted to be a good neighbour and use its powers to replace the wall for some time. It said there was no realistic "in between" option short of a flood defence scheme, which is estimated to cost around £2 million and it was essential to get an Environmental Permit from the agency to ensure the wall's construction was appropriate.

 The work in the town on thwill take approximately two weeks. 

The new wall will help to slow down any future flood surge, but not prevent it happening.