Flood risk River Teme unblocked near Powick Old Bridge

Although no work appeared to be going on Friday at the River Teme, these photos show that a substantial amount of driftwood has already been removed by the Environment Agency next to the Powick Old Bridge on the edge of Worcester.

Last week the river appeared to be completely blocked by an enormous island dam of dead wood. But this week the river was flowing freely albeit with some work still left to do.

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The Teme had been completely choked up with piles of dead wood but a team from the Environment Agency had been working with a tractor and winch and a  boat crew to free up the river, reducing the flood risk for residents over the autumn and winter.

BEFORE: A team from the Environment Agency had its work cut out clearing this mess

The colossal mounds of driftwood, including whole tree trunks, had been choking up the River Teme near the medieval Powick Old Bridge for 'around five months', according to one fisherman.

However, work to clear the island of rotting wood was launched in earnest on Tuesday and continued apace on Wednesday. 

MISSION: The Environment Agency team worked through the heat to clear the River Teme and reduce flood risk to people's homes

The Environment Agency said the work 'will improve the river’s flow and reduce flood risk for nearby communities for the autumn and winter months ahead'.

A two-man boat crew co-ordinated the operation from the water, fitting the winch.

Barry Killner, response lead for the Environment Agency, said they were having a 'Battle of Powick Bridge' removing the blockage, a reference to the famous Civil War skirmish fought there in the mid-17th century.

He said: "They are winching the material out using an Environment Agency 15 tonne winch tractor.

"The team members in the boat are there to connect the winch rope to the debris."

The bridge was the site of the first skirmish of the English Civil War as tensions boiled over between King Charles I and Parliament.

For many, the bridge is an enduring symbol of the city's rich Civil War heritage during one of the bloodiest chapters in English and British history.

A fisherman, who lives nearby, raised concerns that the build-up of debris was so bad that salmon could not get up the river to spawn with the problem getting steadily worse over the last five months.

As we approach the 380th anniversary of the Battle of Powick Bridge, there have also been concerns that the grade I listed bridge should look its best as the city marks the milestone.