A new flood alleviation scheme at Walton-le-Dale in Lancashire, UK, has been awarded certificates of merit for the client, the designer and the contractor.

The Preston & South Ribble Civic Trust made the awards to the UK Environment Agency, as the client, to the designer, environmental engineering firm, Binnie black-veatch (BBV), and to the contractor, Harbour & General Works.

A US$5.5M scheme to refurbish and create new flood defences along the banks of the rivers Ribble and Darwen, the works comprise embankments, piled walls, gravity walls and reinforced concrete walls.

Nigel Wilder, EA project manager, said: ‘As construction work was undertaken in the public eye – often in residents gardens as well as on the public highway – the EA and BBV chose to pursue a policy that would achieve quality finishes and elevate the structures into a part of the surroundings that local people would appreciate as enhancing the appearance of their neighbourhood.’

BBV supervised the construction which was carried out by Harbour & General Works in two phases, from June-December 2001 and April-October 2002.