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Trefusis Park Flood Relief Scheme

Trefusis Park drawing

Plymouth City Council, working in partnership with the Environment Agency and South West Water Limited, has secured funding to deliver changes to the park that will:

  • reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses in the Lipson Vale area by safely storing surface water in the park during heavy rainfall, enabling the drainage system downstream of the park to be able to cope better
  • create wildlife-rich habitats through new seasonal wetland features, trees and plants
  • improve access for all, with new paths and seating, whilst maintaining areas of open space

The project is awaiting funding approval. Subject to that approval, we anticipate that works will start in the park in spring 2023.

Consultation

The public consultation has now closed. Thank you to everyone who came to speak to us at the events and those people who have provided comments and completed surveys. Both the BRIC (Building Resilience in Communities) and design teams have now carefully reviewed all of your valuable responses.

The public consultation presented two options for what the seasonal wetland basins might look like. Option 1 had multiple seasonal wetland basins, with parkland planting to the East and a grass area, for informal recreation, to the South.  Option 2 had two seasonal wetland basins, which allowed for the creation of another grass area, for informal recreation, in the North of the park. Option 2 (shown below) was the preferred option, receiving 30 out of 50 votes from the survey responses and is now being developed into a detailed design.

Trefussis Park option 2

For further information about the scheme, please see the “About the scheme” section below.

During the public consultation, respondents raised some concerns about the seasonal wetland basins, safety and security of the park in general, and the removal of the existing car park.  Residents of Trefusis Gardens were also opposed to solid blocks of trees being planted in front of their properties.  All these concerns are being taken into account during the development of the detailed design and are addressed in the consultation report. 

Many people stated that extra seating is required within the park, so the design team will consider this as part of the detailed design.  Many of the respondents also expressed wider aspirations for general improvements to the park including paths, play facilities, entrances, information about the park’s history and signage.  Whilst these do not fall within the parameters of the current proposed scheme, we hope to consider at least some of the suggestions, once the detailed design of the seasonal wetland basins is complete, and subject to securing funding.

The full consultation report is available below:

About the scheme

To reduce the risk of flooding in the Lipson Vale area during times of heavy rainfall, we are seeking to store excess surface water in seasonal wetland basins within Trefusis Park, then release it back into the drainage network slowly once the heavy rain has passed and the network has capacity again.  

This means that the proposed seasonal wetland basins will be dry for most of the year, allowing people to walk through them. However, during heavy rainfall events, sections of the basins will fill up with water. An elevated grass path will be provided, which will allow access through the basins during most storm events. A fully accessible route will be provided on top of the basins’ embankments, which will provide access throughout the year.

How the seasonal wetland basins will be created

Trefusis Park (Tippy Park) is built on a former landfill site. We are currently carrying out investigations to determine whether it would be appropriate to excavate the landfill.  If this isn’t possible then the seasonal wetland basins will be created by building embankments above existing ground levels.

How the seasonal wetland basins will promote ecology and wildlife

The new seasonal wetland basins will include features such as:

  • a wildlife friendly stream bed – this will incorporate gently sloping banks creating easier access for wildlife instead of the current concrete channel
  • scrapes – these form shallow indents in the basin floor, resulting in areas that will dry out
  • a possible new permanent pond – this would deliver a permanent water body resulting in a new habitat and amenity feature for the park

Size of the newly created areas

The park has an area of approximately 25,000 m2, excluding the woods to the east. Depending on the final design, the seasonal wetland basins will be between 6000 m2 and 12,000 m2, so will take up between 24% and 48% of the non-wooded area of the park. The basins will be dry for most of the year, allowing people to walk through them. 

The informal recreation area that may be created to the south of the park will be somewhere between the size of a 5-a-side football pitch and a 3/4 size adult football pitch. 

Safety of the seasonal wetland basins when full of water

The seasonal wetland basins will be designed in accordance with the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and will take account of the latest Health and Safety design guidance. The water depth will be a maximum of 1.2 metres. As with any water, though, children and dogs will need to be supervised.

Building Resilience in Communities Team

While the proposed scheme will provide some immediate benefits in reducing the flood risk, the full benefit to the project will be achieved when South West Water Services Limited complete their water separation works upstream. Even after this time, however, we cannot guarantee that flooding will never occur because of the predicted changes in weather and sea levels caused by climate change. This is why Plymouth City Council’s Building Resilience in Communities (BRIC) Team will be working with local people to raise flood awareness. Opportunities to get involved will include:

  • becoming a member of a community Flood Action Group
  • attending flood risk awareness sessions
  • taking part in learning and creative activities to explore our relationship with water and the challenges of climate change on our local landscape

Flooding in the Lipson Vale area

The Lipson Vale area floods because:

  • it is a rapid response catchment with very steep sided roads that funnel the water to vulnerable streets
  • there has been an increase in heavy intense rainfall
  • run-off water volume exceeds the capacity of the sewer systems
  • there are tidal challenges - if heavy rainfall coincides with a high tide, the water exits can become ‘tide-locked’, causing a back-up in the drainage system

Why this flooding is an issue

  • The impact upon people’s homes and lives with increased mental health issues around the disruption to family life
  • Fully drying out, repairing and restoring a home costs on average £20,000 to £45,000 per household1
  • Road closures and disruption to local businesses

How the flood relief scheme will improve the lives of people in the local area

  • Less likelihood of flooded properties in vulnerable streets, so residents at risk will feel safer
  • Roads and pavements less likely to be closed because of flood water
  • An improved local park with new trees and plants, creating a richer habitat for wildlife and more opportunities to connect with nature
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