28 Jul 2024
There are no signs that the closed footpath from St Michael’s village into Verulamium Park will re-open any time soon, councillors have confirmed.
The route from St Michael’s Street into Bell Meadow was shut for safety reasons back in May, after the footpath became slippery due to flooding from the River Ver, although access remained open via the Verulamium Museum entrance.
But months later the enforcement remains in place, prompting questions about SADC’s long-term strategy for the site at last week’s full council meeting.
Cllr Juliet Voisey asked: “The path and surrounding area have been flooded for over half a year now. The climate issue is not going away, so what plan is in place to ensure the park stays open even when there is flooding?
“To date the response by the council has been one of delayed reaction; closing the path around the small lake after it had been flooded for months, and then finally closing the entire area after numerous people had slipped on the algae-covered path.”
Councillors heard that rainfall this year has been exceptionally high, with Herts and north London receiving 111mm of rainfall in February, approximately 272% of the long-term average for the month, and the highest recorded since February 1951. Rainfall remained high in April with 69mm recorded.
Although river flow has started to decline, it remains exceptionally high, as do groundwater levels, meaning the land cannot soak up the rainfall which eventually ends up flooding into the river.
All of these factors have contributed to the ongoing flooding in Verulamium Park this winter.
Cllr Helen Campbell, who chairs the public realm committee which has responsibility for parks, explained: “The decision to close the footpath was taken on health and safety grounds due to the slippery surface that had developed under the running water.
“Signage is in place around the lakes warning visitors and directing them to alternative routes and the temporary footpath. This alternative route has ensured there is continued pedestrian access though the park and this was deemed to be safer than installing a temporary structure.
“Once the flooding has subsided the structural condition of the path will be assessed, and it will be cleaned and re-opened as soon as necessary repairs have been completed.
“Flooding did subside due to the dry weather in June and the council did consider cleaning the paths however decided to wait as more rainfall was forecast. Since then, in July flood levels have increased because of further rain.
“The Environment Agency has stated that they do not expect ground water levels and flooding to subside until August / September, though river flow is now starting to show signs of decline.”
Cllr Voisey warned after the meeting that the whole cycle could repeat itself in the autumn without a constructive plan: “I am concerned that there does not seem to be a plan in place to get the St Michael’s Verulamium access reopened despite ongoing flooding. We’re going to be dealing with higher levels of rainfall going forward, and we can’t just close access to the park for six months of the year. Instead of just repairing the existing paths and it happening again, let’s future-proof it and maybe look at different options like the raised walkways many nature reserves/wetlands have. It seems we are just waiting in the hope it doesn’t rain. The EA have said we should be able to look at repairing the paths in August or September, but there’s no guarantee and that doesn’t leave much time before autumn begins and we are back in a cycle of rain.
“The millstream could take more water as it barely has any flow from Gorhambury, and most of the water goes down Prae Close. The remaining businesses in St Michael’s rely on many of their customers walking through the park. The park was just awarded a Green Flag, but this historic side of Verulamium Park deserves better.”
