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Chiswell
case study: The Scheme
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 The outfall above, and channel, below, under flood conditions in December 1989  
The gabion blankets on the crest of the beach have stood up well to storm conditions |
Present position [at publication date 1990] 58. The construction of the scheme was completed in 1988 with the exception of the recommended length of gabion crest protection. An event occurred in January 1986, when the stage 2 contract for the interceptor drain was under construction; in spite of flooding-in Victoria Square, the partially completed works demonstrated their potential effectiveness. 59. Up to 16 December 1989, the trial length of gabion protection had not been tested and no significant movement of the mattresses had been detected. Deterioration due to corrosion of the tying wire and in the BRC galvanised mattresses had occurred, but no replacement or renewals have been undertaken. The mattresses on the crest had remained covered with beach material and those on the seaward face had acquired a covering which makes the construction almost indistinguishable from the natural Beach. The severe storm of 16 December 1989 proved the effectiveness of the Sea Defence Scheme in all its components: flooding was minimal and the interceptor drain flowed full. 60. The Council, maintaining its commitment to support the community of Chiswell, has actively pursued its GIA procedures, offering grants to encourage owners of properties in the area to carry out improvements. The Council itself has provided environmental improvement works in support of the GIA, and has recently completed a small new house-build scheme within the former flood-risk area. This project, aimed at demonstrating to the community the Council's confidence in the area, has been designed to incorporate particular construction details recommended by Dobbie, who were retained to advise on this scheme and to assist the owners of existing properties who wish to carry out improvements with GIA grant support. 61. The sponsoring authorities have considered the completion of the scheme by implementing the remaining recommendation of the consulting engineers, namely the construction of the Beach crest protection northwards from the end of the experimental length. Following the testing of the trial length of gabions in the storm of 16 December 1989, it is likely that the recommendation can now be fully assessed. 62. The sponsoring authorities and the community at Chiswell are aware that, while the scheme has greatly reduced the flooding risks, the forces of nature are such that it can never be entirely eliminated. Nevertheless, the confidence that the sponsoring authorities have been seeking to engender in Chiswell has been rewarded, and the settlement is beginning to demonstrate an air of well-being and optimism.  
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