Tyne Dock Flood Study to Get Underway
South Tyneside Council is carrying out a review of the Tyne Dock area to explore options to help mitigate the risk of flooding in future.
The initial work will help the Council to understand the complexities of the drainage system around the Jarrow Road, Port of Tyne, Kennedy’s corner and Temple Town roundabout areas and to examine the impact of flooding on the travelling public, local properties and businesses, transport networks and major events.
It comes after flooding caused by extreme rainfall on Great North Run day last year saw main traffic routes and transport providers grind to a halt, at a time when tens of thousands of runners and spectators were travelling home from the finish line at South Shields seafront.
Traffic was diverted and South Shields Transport Interchange was closed due to flooding in the building and on the rail line with Metro services also suspended impacting the wider Metro system, not just locally.
The planned new study, thanks to £60,000 from the Environment Agency, involves gathering historical evidence and data held between the Council and its partners at Northumbrian Water and Nexus, which operates the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The research will also explore benefits and flood mitigation options and funding opportunities for any future scheme.
Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change at South Tyneside Council, said: “We are very much aware of the impact of flooding on local communities, people and properties, particularly with instances of extreme rainfall becoming a more frequent occurrence.
“There have been long-standing issues with flooding at Tyne Dock which is one of the Borough’s lowest points. Despite work carried out as part of transport improvements, further measures to help reduce the risk of flooding remain complex due to drainage assets being the responsibility of several different parties and the need for significant investment.
“However, main transports routes were brought to a standstill on 10 September last year, with roads, rail and bus services all impacted together when tens of thousands of people, dependent on these services, were trying to leave the town.
“The severe disruption to residents, businesses and the travelling public, not to mention the economic impact, has highlighted a real need to work with wider partners to look at both sewer and surface water flooding to find an economically viable option to mitigate flood risk in the future.
“It is clear that this is a matter that cannot be resolved by the Council alone and we are in discussions with partners over the next steps.”
The flooding on 10th September 2023 was caused by manholes surcharging along the combined sewer network at both Jarrow Road and Kennedy’s corner. The network was overwhelmed due to the sheer volume of water entering the combined sewer system in such a short space of time, with rapidly rising flood waters running down from Jarrow Road to the lowest point.
While the situation was compounded by the volume of people in the Borough at the time, the Council and its partners at Nexus and the Great Run Company worked together to get everyone home as swiftly and safely as possible.