Park plans for river meet with flood of complaints

RESIDENTS plan to fight proposals to build flood overflow areas in city parks – claiming it would ruin the green spaces and devastate wildlife.

It comes after the Environment Agency (EA) said it was considering concrete structures to prevent devastating flooding in Bournville and Stirchley.

The public body said that, while no decisions had yet been made, it was looking at Manor Farm Park, Weoley Hill Park and Valley Parkway as potential locations.

But park-goers have strongly rejected the proposals.

A mother, who chose to remain anonymous, feared the “concrete dams” would damage footpaths, destroy mature trees and make parks “unusable”. The Northfield resident of over 40 years said: “The plan is disgraceful. Manor Farm Park was given by Cadbury to the people of Birmingham for their enjoyment – not to EA to be used as a temporary dam.

“The park has protected species of animals. It hosts a number of community groups. We’ll fight it any way we can.”

Another concerned resident said: “I can’t remember the areas ever flooding drastically. We only suffered from floods when water mains burst. We don’t need to build anything in our parks. I’m worried storage areas will devastate wildlife and ruin our green spaces.”

A third added: “It will seriously degrade our parks – certainly not enhance it as EA implies. In the recent appalling weather there was no recurrence of this flooding. River Bourn’s culvert well-contained the flow of water.”

EA has said some 200 homes and 100 businesses across Bournville and Stirchley are impacted when the River Bourn floods.

A spokesperson said: “We encourage those with an interest to look at the project website. We will be sending out leaflets to those who do not have access to the internet and holding events in the community.”