Modernisation South Holland IDB

lawyers sluice, built in 1949, 2003 pumping station left

in order improve gravity discharge of water district, sluice river nene @ peters point rebuilt in 1937. width reduced 26 feet (7.92 m), cill lowered 10 feet (3.05 m) below ordnance datum. in order cope silty sub-soil in foundations had built, point dewatering equipment used first time in england. consists of inserting small tubes ground , pumping them high-efficiency vacuum pump lower ground water levels, creating dry , stable working environment. need grow more food during second world war led large areas of low-lying grassland being ploughed crops, , required improved drainage. main drain improvement scheme drawn in 1942, , widening , deeping of main drain , other channels carried out. ten new bridges required, accommodate wider channels, , old brick structures demolished , replaced open span bridges. feeder drains improved, , area served drainage board increased 63.28 square miles (163.9 km).

the first electric pumping station erected @ new outfall lawyers , andersons districts in 1949, followed several more. fleet haven pumping station cost £21,793 , completed in 1958/59, , in same year, dawsmere pumping station cost £33,868. lord s drain pumping station commenced operation in 1962. sluices upgraded, on holbeach river being commissioned in 1955, , lutton leam outfall sluice following in 1958/59. despite improvements, fleet fen area found @ risk during flood periods, , major upgrade, funded government, completed in 1971. included new pumping station main drain , fleet river meet, , used submersible pumps first time in land drainage scheme. extremely heavy rainfall on 11 july 1968, when on 4.9 inches (125 mm) fell on gedney in morning, demonstrated still more work required prevent flooding. run-off water spalding diverted coronation channel, flood-relief bypass river welland, , clay lake pumping station built in 1970, handles run-off, can used pump adjacent fen when not doing so. 5 additional pumping stations built throughout district. more half of area served idb depends on pumping stations, although stations still have gravity outfall, power failures or breakdowns not disastrous. further 6 pumping stations have been commissioned since 1974, latest being brought on-line in july 2003 @ lawyers sluice, assist when 1949-built structure tidelocked.