Lyme Regis: Calls for floods debris to be cleared from River Lim (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Calls for floods debris to be cleared from River Lim

10:00am Friday 10th August 2012 in Lyme Regis By Anne Bell

THE debris-strewn river in Lyme Regis could be in for a thorough clean-up if town councillors have their way.

Following the July floods, the River Lim, which runs through the town, is clogged in places with masonry, stone and other items torn loose and carried downriver by the raging floodwaters.

Councillors on the strategy and policy committee heard a report on the aftermath of the flooding from town clerk Michael Lewis.

He said that Environment Agency officers have walked the river looking for possible obstructions that could increase the risk of further flooding.

“The Blandford office of the EA has been tasked with removing potential blockages such as tree trunks and railway sleepers.

“Large pieces of masonry were observed in the river bed, particularly downstream from the Middle Mill collapse and the agency is requesting Dorset County Council that these are recovered for rebuilding the collapsed section of the bank.

“There are other foreign objects which will not be removed by the Environment Agency, such as concrete manhole surrounds, which have been in the river for years but which were displaced during the floods.

“These have never been claimed by South West Water and perhaps could be removed during a future river clean by volunteers.”

Committee chairman Coun Mark Gage said he would like to see a river clean-up. He said: “I would like us to see if we can get a river clean going. Our staff, councillors, voluntary groups and volunteers could assist, perhaps on Saturday mornings.

“The Environment Agency and the council could clear their rubbish, then we could go along afterwards.”

Councillors also heard that there was work going on with the owners of the chalets at Ware Cliff to create an evacuation plan in case of further floods.

Members heard that although the chalets and caravans escaped relatively unscathed, the council was in contact with chalet owners to make sure that everybody would have access to the same information in case of similar incidents in future.