Selby Dam refurbishment project continues

The Environment Agency (EA) has announced plans to continue ongoing refurbishment work at a pumping station in Selby in a £350,000 project to replace the facility's pumps.


As part of the works at the Selby Dam pumping station, on New Millgate, all four pumps, which are more than 40 years old, will be removed and replaced with more efficient models, with the aim of reducing the risk of flooding.

The pumping station used to manage water levels on the dam at high tides when it can’t discharge into the River Ouse as normal. However, as many as 326 homes an business are at risk of flooding when water in the dam backs up and needs pumping out.

EA project manager, Mark Fuller, said: “The Selby Dam pumping station has played a very important role to protect Selby against flooding over the years, and this work means that we will have a modern pumping system that can continue to reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses well into the future.

“The new pumps will be able to pump more water than the old ones did, mostly because of improvements in pump technology. They will also use less power, which is good news for the environment.”

The work forms part of an ongoing refurbishment of the station, which has seen the roof replaced, the removal of potentially lethal asbestos from the site, as well as increasing the size of the doors and access gates to accommodate new equipment.

The pumping station played an important role protecting Selby during the floods of June 2007. Selby also has a flood defence scheme, completed in 2008, which reduces the risk of flooding to 2,500 homes and businesses from the River Ouse.

It is expected that the current work will be completed by November.

Carys Matthews

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