|
SUDSnet visit 15th April 2005 |
|
SUDSnet
provides a UK-wide network for researchers, practitioners,
agencies, developers and all those who are interested in
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems.
SUDSnet
is funded by an EPSRC Network Grant and is held jointly by
Coventry University and the Urban Water Technology Centre at the
University of Abertay Dundee. |
 |
Twenty-six delegates from the national SUDSnet group travelled to
Bournemouth & Poole to learn about the Bourne Stream sustainable
drainage systems (SUDS).
The SUDS here are of particular
interest to many people because they are a quite unique example of
retro-fitting these more natural drainage techniques into a densely
urbanised catchment, where space is at a premium and where traditional
drainage had led to problems with pollution and flooding of the valley.
|
 |
Attendees
included:
-
Development
Officers from the Environment Agency in Blandford
-
SUDS
practitioners from Cheltenham & Bath
-
Academics
from Coventry University and the University of Portsmouth
-
Representatives
of the Urban Water Technology Centre at the University of
Abertay in Dundee
-
DEFRA
(the government Department of Environment, Food & Rural
Affairs)
-
Our
own partners from Borough of Poole & Bournemouth Borough
Council, English Nature & Dorset Wildlife Trust.
|
|
Above:
Stuart Terry (Borough of Poole) explains his Alderney SUDS
design to (among others) Dr. John Williams, School of Scienceand
the Environment, University of Coventry |
At 11.30 we all
met at Bournemouth University where Stuart Terry (Borough of Poole) and
Sarah (BSP Project Officer) gave a presentation that described the stream
and its catchment, explained the various SUDS designs, and the results of
our water quality monitoring.
After a buffet
lunch (and just as it started to rain) we left by coach to visit the lagoons
and wetland at Alderney the stream
modification works at South Park Road, and the latest SUDS at Coy
Pond Gardens. Unfortunately there was no time to visit the Upper
Gardens to discuss our ideas for that area (which will be announced soon).
Questions from delegates covered issues
such as public perception of SUDS, the cost, frequency and arrangements
made for maintenance, and the quality of sediment removed during
maintenance. This last question has not really been tackled by the
partnership as little maintenance has been required to date, but SUDSnet have offered to
help in designing a
sediment sampling and analysis protocol for the future.
The group is also interested in
analysing our water quality sampling data sets, and comparing them with
other SUDS performance data.
Our
thanks for their help making the day a success go to:
Rita
Dugan and Julian Fox, Bournemouth University
Sea
View Coaches |
