Vital revamp of tidal barrier>video

WORK to revamp Hull's tidal barrier has reached the halfway stage.

Environment Agency staff only have a limited summer window in which to carry out the important work when there is less danger of tidal surges.

The second stage of the £10m maintenance programme will take place during next year's warm months.

This year's operation has included preliminary mechanical work to prepare for next year's change from the current system of using electric motors to raise and lower the barrier to a synchronised hydraulic drive system.

The hydraulics will make this crucial mechanism more reliable and, in the event of an electricity cut, the barrier could still be lowered into place by hand-pumping.

Contractors will be giving the new drive system for the barrier extensive testing at their factory over the autumn and winter months before the installation work begins in May next year.

Operations manager Peter Holmes said: "The Hull tidal barrier is one of the country's key flood defence structures.

"It is a vitally important tool in protecting the people, homes and businesses of the city of Hull from flooding from the North Sea.

"Without the barrier the consequences for the city could be extremely serious and we need to make sure it runs as smoothly and reliably as possible.

"This £10m maintenance scheme is the largest programme of works we have carried out on the barrier, and we need to spread it over two years so we can carry out the work at the least dangerous times."

Most of Hull is at risk of flooding from the sea as over 90 per cent of the city is below high-tide level.

About 17,000 properties are protected by the Hull tidal barrier.

Without the barrier, a high-surge tide could inflict more than £230m damage to the city.

Link

Environment Agency

www.environment-agency.gov.uk