THE continuing problems associated with flooding in Distillery Lane are a result of the interaction of many factors both human and natural.

The flooding at the Hythe, Hull House Mews, part of Albany Gardens, Old Heath Road and the Nursery are not separate issues, they are part and parcel of a series of interconnected causes and effects, which lead to the flooding.

They are part of the Bourne Brook valley, which rises in the vicinity of Abbey Fields and flows down the valley, under Mersea Road, through Bourne Mill, down to Middle Mill under Old Heath Road on to Distillery Pond and down eventually to the River Colne.

This valley has been used for centuries, the ponds were dammed in Medieval times and used as fishing ponds and the power of the water drove various mills at each site.

Some parts of the valley are now fortunately wooded and form a green corridor stretching almost to the Colne, but much of the catchment area has been built over with the final stretch of the stream from the old Hull Mill buildings down to the Colne is underground, except when the culvert cannot cope with the run-off, or the River Colne is at high tide.

Natural rivers and valleys are adjusted to cope with peak natural flows (of energy, sediment and water), over the centuries the Bourne Brook valley has been much changed.

The urbanisation causes more rapid surface run-off, especially at peak rainfall times.

The size of the culverts limits the volume of water that can pass through. In times of heavy and intense rainfall, the system fails.

Realising the added pressure of building the new Albany Gardens estate would have, the developers employed engineers to incorporate a vessel of 140,000 litre capacity .

Two high capacity pumps and a 300mm rising main were installed to discharge the stored water back to the existing lake, as a permanent solution. The lake level was also raised.

However, when there is much rain as falls, the natural and manmade storages cannot cope and the water floods.

Hull House when managed by the Albany Laundry never flooded. The lake level was monitored, the pond regularly dredged, and in times of peak flow water was channelled down the lower part of Distillery Lane, adding to the flooding woes on Haven Road, but keeping the house dry.

What is required is a multi-faceted and integrated approach to the management of the Bourne Brook valley.

Authorities need to come together to improve the water management to minimise the flooding.

A piecemeal approach which fails to recognise the interconnectedness of the river system cannot produce a sustainable solution.

Dr Des Bowden, Distillery Lane, Colchester

THE Harwich and Dovercourt High School staged a two day cardiac screening when more than 200 pupils and staff were checked by Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) medical team.

CRY’s mission is to identify those at risk from sudden cardiac death.

ECGs, and where necessary Echocardiograms, are conducted by medical staff and every pupil screened is referred to a cardiac doctor who is in attendance at the event.

We lost our son Marcus ten years ago from an undetected heart condition. Since then we have been involved in raising nearly £40,000 for the Marcus Armstrong Memorial Fund with CRY.

This fund has financed 700-plus screenings, with the majority of them at the Harwich School.

We would like to thank staff, especially Louise Brundle and Paul Day, who have organised the screenings.

After ten years we have decided to close the memorial fund in the knowledge so many people have been checked.

Several young people have been referred for more intensive investigation.

We must thank all the local people and family and friends who have raised such a phenomenal amount.

Tremendous fundraising from restaurants, pubs, sporting organisations and family and friends and also from families who had lost family members.

Those efforts and donations means a lot of parents will rest easy knowing their children have been checked.

It has given us strength knowing so many of you raised such a wonderful amount for the Marcus Armstrong Memorial Fund.

All remaining funds will be donated to CRY for their research. Thank you everybody.

Tony and Jackie Armstrong, St George’s Avenue, Dovercourt

ALTHOUGH the internet is very useful for all sorts of things you just can’t beat a local trader at times.

We’ve used Merrills Electrical shop on numerous occasions over the years and they have always managed to solve the problem, or search out the part needed and give practical advice.

All done in a friendly and helpful manner.

Thank you Merrills and all local traders, long may you survive.

Alison Livingstone, Cherrywood Drive, Colchester