The weir of a flood-control pond (rated for D class floods) was damaged during flooding of the River Burge. A portion of the chute’s gabion mattresses was swept away. The extensive damage to the works meant that it was unlikely to withstand another flood. Monitoring was temporarily reinforced pending the pond’s reconstruction.

The analysis of the event raised questions about when the river would flood again. It also revealed a design flaw. The junction between the gabions protecting the downstream face of the weir and its top was too weak. A compacting problem of the dyke supporting the gabions was also found.

The solution adopted to repair the works consisted in restoring the downstream deck:

• repairing the loose, large-size rockfill face and anchoring it 2 m inward under the road ;
• grading of the 2H/1V slope to ensure stability during rainy periods ;
• laying a non-impervious face to allow water to drain from the body of the dam if seepage occurs upstream.