FLOOD maps have been revealed showing how Winchester could have been affected by flooding changes to a relief scheme had not been made.

Recently-released by the city council in a report into the second phase of the Durngate scheme, the maps show how large parts of the city centre could be impacted.

However, when compared with flood maps without any scheme in place, it suggests areas such as North Walls, River Park Leisure Centre, Upper Brook Street and Middle Brook Street, would no longer be impacted.

As previously reported, the city council has since approved an additional £500,000 to improve the scheme and reduce flood risk.

The project, which includes installing three new sluice gates, had initially been estimated to cost £720,000. However, further investigative and technical work has meant significant changes to the design and brings the cost to £1.25million.

Hampshire Chronicle:

It was agreed by councillors that the extra £500,000 would come from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, money generated from a charge on new developments, with the remaining £30,000 left over from phase one.

According to a report to cabinet, the spending decision was treated as a matter of urgency due to fears of “existing external funding being withdrawn”.

Referring to the maps, a spokesman for Winchester City Council stressed: “These maps do not reflect typical sluice operating conditions during a flood event. These were primarily used to scope the initial stages of the project to determine the potential worst case impact on Winnall Moors.

“The final modelling is currently being completed in conjunction with the Environment Agency, and full public engagement will take place in February.”

It comes after a council report said City Mill, a Winchester landmark, could be destroyed, and City Bridge could be damaged, if the works were not carried out.

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It said: “The National Trust has been repairing City Mill from the flood damage suffered in 2014, and have been carrying out modelling work on the stability of the structure. This has shown that the building is extremely vulnerable to damage from flooding, at water heights which are within the anticipated flood levels in the future according to the latest flood modelling.

“The analysis has shown that the damage would likely manifest as a total collapse of this Grade II* listed building, severely restricting river conveyance and immediately threatening the city centre/Water Lane areas with substantial flooding; there is also a risk to the downstream City Bridge, a Grade I listed structure.

READ: Winchester landmark 'likely to collapse in a flood', report reveals >>>

“Providing the second phase of the Durngate scheme would help protect the building and would thereby reduce the flood risk.”

Winchester City Mill is the oldest working watermill in Britain and dates back more than 1,000 years. During the winter of 2013/14, Hampshire suffered some of the heaviest rainfall in around 200 years, with areas of Winchester being submerged, and the City Mill being damaged.

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Speaking to the Chronicle earlier this month, Ric Weeks, Winchester City Mill’s manager said: “We have been working in close partnership with Winchester City Council and the Environment Agency since the last major flood event in 2014, examining the risks and impact of flooding to the City Mill.

“As a result of this research and survey work, the National Trust carried out a major, publicly supported, structural restoration in 2018.

“A secondary phase of resilience works to mitigate the effects of flooding is underway now, and due to be completed this year.

“We are also working on a number of joint measures with the Environment Agency and the council to do everything we can to protect the Mill, the wider landscape and the community, in the event of future flooding.”