General Information

Marton Pumping Station in the 19th Century

History

Drainage Board’s were originally set up to provide drainage in areas of need i.e. low lying areas. Several have been around in some form for hundreds of years. The Newark Board has been in existence since 1949 - its predecessors were the Newark and Southwell Boards which were formed in 1936.

Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) are statutory authorities and operate under the Land Drainage Act 1991.

The Board’s District extends through the Trent Valley from Nottingham to Gainsborough and part of the Vale of Belvoir. The area is 35530 hectares (87800 acres) and is defined as land within 2.4 m (8 ft.) of the highest known flood level. This land is considered to benefit from drainage operations. The Board’s area was decided by the Trent River Authority (now the Environment Agency).

The Drainage System

The Board maintains a network of watercourses within the district to provide drainage. Other watercourses are the responsibility of the landowner but the Board has powers to ensure they are satisfactorily maintained. The Board operates 8 pumping stations the remainder of the area is drained by gravity.

Since 1998 major flood alleviation schemes have been carried out on the River Smite at Whatton, the Cocker Beck at Lowdham and the Mill Dam at North Scarle. These improvement schemes were partly funded by government grant.

The Environment Agency maintains ‘main rivers’ which include the Rivers Trent and Devon and parts of the Halloughton Dumble, River Greet, Dover Beck and Grassthorpe Beck. A further 6 watercourses were ‘en-mained’ in 2006 including the River Smite, the Cocker Beck and the Mill Dam.

Operations and Environment

The Board employs a direct labour force of 10 men to maintain the drainage system of over 580 km of watercourse. The watercourses vary from semi-natural streams such as the Caunton Beck to artificial pumped drainage channels such as the Marton Drain near Gainsborough. Machinery operated by the Board includes 4 excavators for dredging and weedcutting and 2 tractor-mounted flailmowers for bank and hedge maintenance.

Environmental issues are a priority for the Board as the Board’s watercourses are a vital habitat for birds, mammals and various flora. Timing of works takes these issues into account and the Board liaises closely with Notts Wildlife Trust and English Nature in relation to the works programme.

Funding and Administration

The Board is made up of 12 elected members and 13 Local Council representatives. Meetings are held 4 times a year where members agree the works programme, policy and finance. Day to day operation of the Board is based at the Board’s offices on Castlegate in Newark where 5 staff are employed.

Funding is through a drainage rate which is based on property value and levied on all property within the Board’s district. The rate on agricultural land is paid by the farmer and non-agricultural rate is paid by the Local Council.

The Board’s proposed expenditure for 2007/08 is approximately £1,000,000. Income includes government grant at £160,000, Agricultural rate £260,000 and Local Council levy is £600,000.