Many of you will have seen the board at the front of clubhouse which explains the work that Seven Trent are to do on the Hensborough Bank dam. In 2017, new guidance was published regarding the requirements for reservoir drawdown (i.e. emptying) capacity, to protect against dam failure. Draycote Water is one of the reservoirs identified as requiring increased drawdown capacity. This is a legal requirement.
It was originally planned for the works’ compound to be beyond the site perimeter but, due to not being able to agree access to the land, Seven Trent have now had to locate it within the site, and have asked to use parts of the Sailing Club land, which has been agreed.
The work on site commenced on Monday 24 October 2022, near to the Hensborough Embankment and should take approximately 52 weeks to complete.
In October and November 2022, the works will include tree and vegetation removal, and the installation of a temporary site compound, storage areas and access/turning areas for construction delivery vehicles, between the Hensborough Embankment and the Sailing Club.
To set up these compounds ready to undertake the dam works, Seven Trent will be licensing parts of the Sailing Club’s leased land. It has been agreed that for the use of this land, DWSC will receive financial compensation and other designated areas of our land will be developed to allow the Club to function within a smaller space. The construction works agreed are for the development of the windsurfer beach and the land beyond it (sections E & F in the diagram below). These sections will be made hard standing and be robust for multipurpose use, from the road down to the high water level.
However, until these works are done, there will be limitations to the site until the 18th November. The work phases through October and November will have operational challenges which will mean that we need to ask members to support and comply with the instructions communicated and set out through onsite signage. These rules may change daily and therefore communications both through emails and signage on site must be adhered to. The Club will need, for short periods, to move some sailing areas such as the windsurfer beach and remove parking on site to members. Staff will be doing their best to ensure everyone has as much access as possible. We aim to communicate any changes in advance and members are asked to comply and be understanding to them.
While this short-term disruption will be troublesome, the changes to sections E & F will be long term and beneficial.
For more information on the works please see the below link:
