Macon Meadows Macon Way, Crewe, Cheshire East,
To improve connection of the floodplain to flows from Valley Brook along the river corridor between SJ 71496 55313 and SJ 71455 55326, the following works are proposed: One riffle feature, one chute, one embankment section removal and the creation of two backwater areas are proposed in partnership with Bentley Motors who are providing funding for this work under their Environmental Foundation programmes. The aim of this work is to provide variation in river flow and level in order to allow Valley Brook to function more naturally in this urban environment where upstream and downstream of this location it has been canalised and culverted. This will also provide flood reduction benefits and biodiversity benefits for fish, small mammals and invertebrates. The riffle feature will help to control the water levels during slow flows, and the chute will help direct water to create a wetland feature, which will assist the river to naturally find its own route, meandering over the floodplain. The proposed embankment removal and the creation of the backwater areas will reconnect the river to its natural floodplain, increase the land volume available for flood water and help alleviate flooding pressures on the park. The embankment removal will be excavated to adjacent flood plain level as per the attached drawings. The proposed work considers the principles of floodplain reconnection, valley floor wetting, river and floodplain naturalisation, and habitat and feature improvements. For the full details of the proposed development please refer to the design report.