Emergency flood repairs carried out to prop up collapsed building after Derbyshire floods

The Environment Agency is currently overseeing works to repair the damaged flood defences in Matlock town centre, next to the bridge and Crown Square.

Access over Crown Square has been blocked off while works are underway to effectively prop up the banks and foundations of buildings backing onto the River Derwent close to the bridge.

The Environment Agency has already placed 50 rock-filled bags against the riverbank as a short emergency fix, but is about to place a further 100 rock-filled bags as a further temporary solution.

As it stands, the buildings off Bakewell Road which overlook the river appear to be at serious risk if the bank was to erode further in subsequent floods – which hit the town centre during almost every period of intense rainfall.

A long-term solution for the apparent perilous situation is in the works but the organisation says it is too early to say what this would be and how much it could cost.

Sources of funding for substantial flood defence works will most likely sit with central Government, with local authority finances stretched and still awaiting funding support for the 2019 floods.

Construction workers have been operating a large crane and cutting down trees on the riverbank close to the bridge.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “To protect homes and businesses from the risk of flooding, further temporary repair works to the flood defences behind the businesses close to Crown Square, Matlock are planned for Tuesday, April 5 until Thursday, April 7.

“The temporary repairs will limit any further erosion and damage to the flood defences. This was caused by the collapse of privately-owned walls in February 2022 that have also damaged an adjacent Environment Agency flood wall.

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“The repairs will reinstate the flood protection to Matlock to reduce the flood risk for around 50 homes and businesses nearby.

“We are working with Derbyshire County Council on a traffic management system that is needed to enable the work to be carried out and we apologise for any inconvenience.

“A longer-term engineering solution for the area close to Crown Square is currently in the early planning stages: it is too early to say what this may look like or cost.”

Work to lift the 100 rock-filled bags into place will take place from 7pm on Tuesday, April 5 until 7am on Thursday, April 7.

Derbyshire County Council and the Environment Agency were both asked what the long-term solution for the site was and how the project would be funded.

Leadership in the area, including Cllr Barry Lewis, county council leader and Cllr Steve Wain, Matlock Mayor, have been outspoken following the recent flooding in the town and have been calling for Government support – promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson three years ago.

A spokesperson for the authority has reiterated that it simply does not have the money – at least not yet – for the substantial and complex flood defences and repairs that are required.

A Derbyshire County Council spokesperson said: “We are working collaboratively with the Environment Agency, Derbyshire Dales and Severn Trent Water Authority to develop plans for Matlock and the Derwent Valley.

“Following the 2019 flooding we engaged closely with the Environment Agency and other risk management agencies such as water authorities to prioritise our flood risk management schemes, these were then put forward as a bid to the £5.2 billion Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs fund for flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes.

“Engineering solutions are not straightforward and we have not yet been granted the funds needed to deliver effective preventative measures.

“The current works in Matlock are temporary repairs being undertaken by the EA, and partners are working with them to ensure these works can be undertaken as quickly as possible to minimise disruption.”