A system designed to stop the River Welland from flooding is currently not working as it should, the Environment Agency has said.
The authority responsible for the river though says that it’s not related to the delay in repairing the breach that’s left water levels in the waterway through Spalding below average.
A spokesman told The Voice it is investigating why syphons between Cowbit and Crowland are not currently working.
Follow up questions asking how long they had not been working and when they might be fixed had not been answered at the time of going to press.
Earlier this year the Welland breached its banks, flooding farmland.
Works due to be carried out to fix the breaches has experienced numerous delays including through asbestos being present in the banks and due to it currently being a bird nesting site.
The Environment Agency has said that while levels are currently higher than they have been in recent months, it won’t return them to normal until the breaches are fixed.
The spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “The syphons not working as designed is not the reason for the delay in fixing the breach.
“We are also looking into that.
“We have no update on the repair other than what we have shared previously. Our team is working at pace to repair the breach and return to business as usual.”
Concerns over the low water levels have been expressed by a number of groups and organisations including wildlife conservationists, anglers, Welland Yacht Club and those behind the Spalding Water Taxi which has been unable to sail as it usually does this summer amid concerns over safety.
A £6.7m scheme to refurbish the Welland banks was announced in February and due to start in the next two years but is not due to be finished until March 2029 at the earliest.
The Environment Agency say that scheme will help protect a total of 663 homes.
