The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Tony Vourou, opens a £1.3m Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme (SuDS).
A new wetland area in the relandscaped Halliwick Recreation Ground, Muswell Hill, has today been unveiled by the Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Tony Vourou.
The first of its kind in Barnet, the £1.3m Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme (SuDS) – as it is known technically – will divert rainwater runoff from Halliwick Recreation Ground and nearby roads towards the newly built water storage basin, reducing the extent of downstream property and road junction flooding from surface water.
The new wetland will provide wider benefits, including creating new habitats for wildlife and improving the aesthetics of the park. Specialist plants that reduce pollution have also been installed in the new wetlands to help treat rainwater.
The scheme has been integrated with further park regeneration works proposed by the Friends of Halliwick Rec Ground, including the installation of a new central tree-lined path and renovation of all paths and paved areas throughout the park.
Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, said:
“From conception to completion, we have worked closely with local residents. What was once an ordinary patch of grass in a built-up area is now a greatly improved park that is more accessible for residents.
We care about our places and our planet. Halliwick Recreational Ground is now a safe, clean and welcoming place, with the new wetlands helping to reduce the risk of flooding to nearby properties and roads.
We would like to offer our thanks to all our project partners who have contributed funding to this project. These include the Friends of Halliwick Group, Environment Agency, Thames Water, Land Use Consultants (LUC), Metis Consultants, and Blakedown Ltd.”
As part of the council’s SuDs Strategy, further schemes are planned in Watling Park and Friary Park.
Watling Park is the first Flood Alleviation Scheme to be constructed as part of the Action for Silk Stream project, which is part of a £200m flood and coastal innovation programme managed by the Environment Agency. Construction of the Watling Park scheme will commence imminently and involves the realignment of the Burnt Oak Brook and a constructed wetland among other benefits.
Friary Park is Natural Flood Management scheme. Construction commences in early autumn. This scheme will introduce several flood mitigation measures along Blacketts Brook including river restoration, leaky woody dams, and a constructed wetland.
You can read more on flood and water management projects throughout Barnet here: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/environmental-problems/flood-and-water-management/flood-and-water-management-projects