For the past several winters, the Chester Millennium Greenway has suffered from flooding between Long Lane and the A55. This has affected all users of the path, including cyclists and pedestrians. Shallow flooding is less of a problem for cyclists who can often cycle through with little difficulty. However, with deep flooding this section of the Greenway can become impassable, as it is difficult to gauge the depth of the water and impossible to seen any hidden obstacles.
Sustrans who own and maintain the path are aware of the problem, which has become more serious recently due to ground works which have taken place in the fields above the path. Sustrans is exploring legal solutions to the problem in order to prevent water from flowing onto the path in the first place. This is the best solution to the problem, as significant costs would be associated with an engineering solution at path level which might involve constructing an elevated catwalk above the water.
Fortunately severe flooding only occurs a few times each winter, but this can still cause serious inconvenience to path users who need to retrace their steps and find an alternative route.
Until a solution can be found, Greenway users will need to try to become aware of times when flooding has occurred in order to plan their journeys. Sustrans’ suggested diversion involves the use of Long Lane, Mannings Lane North, The Street, School Lane and Station Lane as shown in the map below. (Click on the map to enlarge.)
The Chester Cycling Campaign and local Sustrans Rangers are very aware of this issue and are actively exploring all possible solutions with Sustrans and the local council.
Just to add to this, last week the flooding and danger to those trying to cycle through it was also added to by water coming down from the A55 above via drainage ducts and disgorging in the underpass with such force (it was a deluge) that quite a lot of the old railway trackbed stone had been blasted onto the tarmac track and lay submerged in the flood. This is the first time we had noticed this happen, but water may have come down in the past but we had never noticed it before. When the water receded a bit we cleared the stone off the tarmac to make it safer.
I can vouch for that! Yep, came off once under the M53, trying to find a shallower bit of the ‘lake’, and went on to the (hidden) gravel sides to the path itself! Got soaked and lost my glasses. Thankfully didn’t get hurt, because the water was so deep it cushioned the fall! The ten miles home was a touch uncomfortable, but that’s all part of the fun of cycling, no?!
If the changes were unauthorised environment agency should be notified
An incidents discharge of surface water is an offence under the water resources act
Access to the Greenway from Guilden Sutton Lane / School Lane due to flooding is also a major issue. Is this also being looked at?
The Greenway is managed by Sustrans , but owned by Railway Paths Ltd. CWaC Planning should follow up the unauthorised changes which have caused water to discharge onto the route.