£9m pump station rebuild to stop repeat of floods

Jan 27 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A WATER pumping station in Merseyside is to get a £9m refurbishment after the region was hit by some of the worst flooding in recent memory.

The move follows concerns over whether the pumps at the River Alt station in Formby could cope with high levels of water.

Last weekend the river burst its banks after heavy rainfall and flood warnings were issued.

There are worries that if this happened again the surrounding areas of Huyton, Kirkby, Fazakerley and Maghull could be seriously affected.

The Environment Agency said the refurbishment was the biggest scheme in the North West and the work should be completed by 2010.

Altmouth pumping station is situated close to Altcar firing range and was the biggest in Europe when it was originally constructed in the 1970s.

Four pumps, pumping 80 cubic metres of water per second each – the equivalent volume of a double-decker bus – were installed at a cost of over £1m.

Steve Crowe, business development manager for the new project, said: “The current diesel pumps are to be replaced and the pumping station converted to an electrical station.

“It’s a significant investment for us. It will be the biggest pumping station scheme we’re doing in the North West, and one of the largest in Britain.

“The refurbishment works will be carefully phased, so the pumping station can remain operational throughout.

“Work is due to start on the site towards the end of this year, with the refurbishment complete by 2010. Through the refurbishment, we are trying to provide a more flexible pumping system so we can more efficiently cope with a variety of flows.”

Last weekend’s flooding saw large areas around Little Crosby and Hightown under water as the Merseyside region was hit by heavy rain and gale-force winds.

The Altcar army firing range was also under several feet of water, and there were problems for drivers with standing water.

A floodwatch alert was issued for the River Alt and other watercourses from Huyton to Hightown, including Kirkby, Fazakerley, Maghull, Formby, Aughton, Sefton and Lunt.

Mr Crowe said: “We prioritise our flood defence work in areas where there is the greatest risk to human life and property. Surrounding low-lying agricultural land is also protected, but not to the same scale.

“The pumping station is working as it should be, and we saw this earlier in the week during the periods of heavy rainfall, but we have secured funds for a major refurbishment of the station to replace the pumps nearing the end of their operational life.

“This will make sure the current standards of protection are maintained, and will improve the station’s efficiency in terms of energy consumption.”

The River Alt has a history of flooding since the floodplain was first reclaimed by local monks from the sea in the 13th century.

Flowing from Huyton to Hightown, taking in a drainage basin of 89 sq kms, the Alt is believed to have been responsible for the disappearance of an ancient hamlet as far back as 1577.

alanweston