Statement from Foss Drainage Board 20/10/2025

Published: 20 October 2025

Over the past month HWPC has received a number of queries regarding the apparent overgrown vegetation in the Beck near the Community Centre. Please see this statement as an update.

Statement from Foss Drainage Board to HWPC. Regarding the beck downstream of Stray Road bridge. I can confirm The Board have in recent weeks attended and inspected the watercourse, in addition the in-channel vegetation has been treated with a herbicide this is the middle section only therefore not the full width of the channel. The embankment vegetation is not cut as this is undertaken in conjunction with St- Nicks who are implementing sensitive cutting practices on urban watercourses and would be able to offer more about how this vegetation is managed if you wished to discuss this with them further. In the meantime, The Board will monitor and take action if it is deemed necessary however at the moment this is a single years vegetative growth and is not causing any issues but I completely understand it looks ominous.

Vegetation cut biannually can help play a part in flood risk management as it will regulate flows so as to not speed flows in such a way that the water arrives too quickly to a downstream slowing point as this will heighten the risk of flooding elsewhere.

Trees are not owned by The Board and maintenance for them lays with the riparian owners of said trees, The Board may remove branches if required and only in order to allow machine access to undertake any watercourse work that is necessary. Tree overhang is looked upon as positive in terms of offering overshading to the watercourses as this reduces UV light that accelerates vegetive in channel growths. If any branches were to need cutting off in order to allow a machine to undertake a certain maintenance task then The Board would undertake this at the time and keep removals to a minimal.

I trust this clarifies the situation on maintenance, and should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me,
Kind Regards
Nathan Culpan ¦ Assistant Engineer to the Board