Right of Way No 3 Gunthorpe
Main Street – ByPass Road
(Surveyed 1883 – revised 1913) (Line of A6097 drawn R.Fell)
Discussion: 14 Feb 04 : A Thorley, D Scurlock, M Bowles, R.Fell
The purpose of the discussion was to identify problems arising from a suggestion that the right of way from Main Street to Bye Pass Road be re-levelled in order to maintain pedestrian access in a flood event with a flood level not exceeding 18.5mAOD. This equates to the nominal level considered equal to a 1 in 75/1 in 100 year return period and covers all known major floods in the last 200 years. Excludes 1795.
Two main points arose:
(a)effect on flood flow / levels : no risks arise.
(b)loss of existing privacy to a neighbouring property.
The existing surface dips significantly adjacent to the rear garden on Orchard Close: this level is carried into the garden. A standard 6ft. timber woven fence with top trellis section ensures current privacy.
It was accepted that a revised surface height would result in significant loss of privacy on a daily basis against the relatively very low gain of a flood duration access facility: that leaving the garden level in situ would create an unnaturally high fence within the garden if the fence were raised proportionately: that raising the garden would be disproportionately expensive / disruptive. Pedestrian use not known.
It was felt that there was a lack of known quantitative requirement by the village residents: would they actually use the facility anyway in the event of a flood cutting off both ends of Main Street? Requires evaluating with care in order not to lead people to an answer. Perhaps requires a retrospective general survey to establish genuine economic and social losses suffered in November 2000.
The conclusion was to leave the matter in abeyance at this time. Consideration to be given to alternative layouts maintaining existing privacy values – requires detailed levels survey. Possibility of installing a temporary staging during flood event discussed: explore further. Consider lower threshold height – eg. 18.00mAOD and 18.25mAOD.