Independent investigation into collapse of Newlay Weir confirmed by Environment Agency

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The damaged weir, captured last February. Photo: Mark Stevenson

An independent investigation into the collapse of historic Newlay Weir WILL be carried out, Environment Agency chiefs have confirmed.

The Grade II listed weir, which dates back to the 17th century, partially collapsed over the weekend of the 6 February following high river levels caused by Storm Christoph.

Calls for a independent review were led by Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew and Horsforth councillor Jonathan Taylor, who said that they wanted to get to the bottom of why the damage happened and who would take responsibility for it.

Damaged: Newlay Weir. Photo: Mark Stevenson

A recent Environment Agency (EA) newsletter said:

“We are in the process of commissioning a report from an external expert to assess in more detail the cause of the collapse. We will provide a further update when this is complete.”

Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew welcomed the moves and said on social media:

“I’m pleased to see today’s update from the Environment Agency confirms an independent report will be conducted to determine the cause of the collapse of Newlay Weir following our discussions on this.”

The Environment Agency said further progress had been made to stabilise the areas affected to the damage to the weir. Stabilisation works have been completed on the right bank, while work is due to start on 5 April on stabilising the left bank upstream of the weir.

As previously reported, work has started on creating a fish pass at the side of the weir, as part of a £2.7 million project taking place at four different parts of the Aire to allow salmon to swim up the river for the first time in 150 years. Some of the equipment to build the fish pass was also washed into the river during the floods.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t see how it can be anything other than relating to the construction work. They start removing parts/working on the weir and it suddenly collapses….? I’d suggest checking out the other sites they are working on to see how good of a job they’re doing there. Same group working down on Kirkstall? I honestly thought the setup there looked a bit like working on a knife edge.

    • Totally agree with you Jonathan, i live on newlay lane and can tell you that a 17th century weir could not take the constant pounding of the pilons into the bed of the river. you could not only hear the pounding but could practically feel the vibration. the bods concerned are trying to blame a storm but it was the pounding in of the pilons that was the cause of the weirs destruction.

  2. When one considers the designed curve of the Newlay weir the pressure of the water against it was resisted by the sideways pressure against the weirs side walls. Building the fish weir was an obvious risk of weakening this structure and provision for this should have been fully taken into account when planning the placement of the fish weir. This same weir through the years has resisted floods in my memory far beyond the flow leading to its collapsed. The fish weir design was at fault and it is easy to understand where things went wrong.

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