A custom-made trash screen designed and made by Fabweld Steel Products (FSP) has been installed at a property in a Bedfordshire village, which suffered its worst floods in more than two decades during Christmas 2020.
The village of Carlton, eight miles from Bedford, is located close to the River Ouse. During 2020, a wet winter followed by heavy rainfall in December culminated in a major flood event which overwhelmed local flood defences and drainage measures. Many residents had to be evacuated as water levels rose.
One of the properties affected was owned by the elderly mother-in-law of Trevor Plummer, a retired senior level chartered construction manager. The house, built around 20 years ago, has a storm ditch running along the back of the property, down the side and into another storm ditch at the front of the house. A 400mm pipe directs water around the property but debris was collecting in the pipe which was interfering with the water flow.
In the aftermath of the severe flooding, Carlton’s flood defence committee looked at measures to alleviate issues locally. As part of that, it was suggested a 45-degree trash screen was added to the pipe in the storm ditch to replace the vertical one fitted to ensure large debris could be pushed over the top of the pipework during periods of heavy rainfall.
Drawing on his 40 years’ experience in the construction industry and engineering background, Trevor spoke to Fabweld Steel Products about designing a trash screen which would fit over the pipe inlet to help keep the water flowing, thereby protecting his mother-in-law’s home and other neighbouring properties should the village flood again.
Trevor said: “To support the wider community effort to improve flood defences around the village, I lead on the design and construction of the trash screen in the storm ditch at my mother-in-law's home. I sent photos of the pipework and a rough outline of what I wanted to do – constructing a concrete headwall and fitting the trash screen to it – to Fabweld and they came back with some recommendations and then a final CAD design which I was able to submit to the council for water course land drainage approval.”
Fabweld Steel Product’s inhouse team custom-design steel products for a variety of applications. Trevor’s galvanised steel trash screen was made to fit neatly over the pipe and affix to the concrete headwall with hinges at the top.
“Once it was rubber stamped by the council, Fabweld manufactured the trash screen for me and delivered it to site. It was a good quality product and exactly as we had agreed. We fitted it and we are confident it will significantly reduce the risk of localised flooding should there be sustained periods of heavy rainfall again. I was really pleased with the end result and wouldn’t hesitate to work with the company again or recommend them to others”, added Trevor.
Wayne Carter, Managing Director at Fabweld Steel Products said: “We have many years of experience working with the water industry delivering standard and bespoke water management products, so when Trevor approached us about his requirements, we were able to channel all that experience into creating a product for him which was exactly right for the job and which also met the latest industry guidelines.
“We use the same 3D design and rendering software for our biggest clients and our one-off orders to ensure that every bespoke product we make is of the high quality and standard that our customers expect from us.”
For more information about Fabweld Steel Products’ products for the water industry, visit www.fsp.co.uk