January 2, 2020 12.36 pm This story is over 50 months old

Investigation begins after farmers left stranded by Short Ferry flooding

The road is beginning to emerge

Work has been ongoing to pump the water out of the fields. Photo: Kurnia Aerial Photography

An investigation will begin today after farmers near Lincoln were left stranded by flooding into land around Short Ferry.

As previously reported, over 1,000 acres appeared to still be underwater last month and a road closure was in place after the Barlings Eau was breached. The Barlings Eau, five miles east of Lincoln, flooded into land around Short Ferry after the bank collapsed on November 9.

Lincolnshire County Council’s highways team will be assessing the structural condition of the road before it can be re-opened to traffic. The highways team is planning to carry out an investigation on Thursday, January 2.

Photo: Kurnia Aerial Photography

Farmers were left stranded, including Henry Ward who owns a farm east of the city which was flooded in up to six feet of water.

The Environment Agency completed repair work on the Barlings Eau which involved using a floating pontoon. Pumps also shifted around 48 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water off the land every day.

The flood water began to clear just before Christmas and the surface of the road is again becoming visible. Kurnia Aerial Photography filmed footage of the latest situation on December 29, 2019.

‪Short Ferry flood update – 29/12/19 week 7 – The water is gradually going down & the road now visible. Great to see local volunteers collecting a mountain of rubbish that has appeared.‬

Posted by Aerial Filming & Photography by The Drone Man – Kurnia Aerial Photography on Sunday, 29 December 2019

Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, previously said: “Given the amount of time the road has been underwater, there is a good chance it has suffered significant damage.

“Our main concern is that the flood water may have weakened or washed away the lower layers of the road, meaning the surface could be liable to collapse under the weight of traffic.

Photo: Kurnia Aerial Photography

“So in early January we’ll be using specialist equipment to test those lower layers and determine the structural condition of the road. We’ll also be cleaning out the gullies, which will undoubtedly have been silted up by the flood water

“Once the tests have been completed, we’ll have a better idea of what repairs may be needed and a projected timetable for the re-opening of the road.”