Council gives go ahead for major canal refurbishment amid increased flood risk
Peterborough City Council has approved a major set of refurbishment works on a canal.
The Environment Agency applied to the council in October for a lawful development certificate to refurbish a number of locations along a vast stretch of the Maxey Cut.
Council planners granted the application in November after it was deemed that planning permission was not necessary.
Built in the 1950s, the Maxey Cut is an artificial canal which alleviates flood risks in Market Deeping and Deeping St James from the River Welland.
The planning application stated: "Over the years, its embankments have suffered erosion, subsidence and settlement exacerbating the integrity of its banks resulting in increased flood risk in the area.
"To address this issue, the work shall comprise the re-profiling of approximately 4.3km of embankment along the left-hand bank of the Maxey Cut.
"There are also five localised low spots which require topping up which are located along the right-hand bank of Maxey Cut."
Planning documents noted that the refurbishment would require some temporary works such as access roads and temporary compounds in the vicinity of the locations where engineering interventions were required.
It is hoped that the refurbishment of the Maxey Cut will "sustain the standard of service it is meant to deliver".