On 19th Jan 2017 with the river Greet in flood, damage was sustained to the brickwork under the Mill where the water runs through, by a build-up of branches washed down by the flow. As the damage was substantial and due to the difficulty of obtaining access it was decided to claim on the Mill’s insurance policy. Little did we know that it would take nearly eight years before the repairs would be completed.
This photo taken at the time shows the initial damage.
So why has it taken so long to repair the damage?
Our insurance company and loss adjusters required the involvement of structural engineers to oversee the work. As the river flow would have to be diverted using the overflow channel, approval had to be obtained from the Environment Agency who in turn required proof that bats were not residing under the Mill. The Agency required the lip of the overflow channel to be lowered to reduce the potential pressure on the gate. Then the Penstock had to be serviced so it could be closed to divert the flow. It had not been used for decades.
The process took ages.
- Obtaining contractors was difficult due to the nature of the work needed.
- The Environment Agency would only allow work to be carried out during summer months.
Finally, the penstock was serviced and fully working again. However, we then went into lockdown and missed the summer months window for the work to be completed.
Then disaster!
Another log was washed down the Greet which crashed into the gate, breaking a part off which is somewhere at the bottom of the pond. The Penstock now could not hold back the water due to the damage and would have to be repaired again. This time we were not insured, as it was a different incident and the terms of the insurance policy would not cover damage (due to excess). As it was so long now since the first incident the original contractor no longer wanted to tender for the work.
Eventually, a new contractor was found, a new permit was obtained from the Environment Agency for 2024, following a further bat survey and the sighting of rare birds, who possibly were nesting behind the penstock. After confirmation they were not, work commenced with the river being damned to divert the water as the Penstock could not be used whilst the brickwork was repaired and holes filed.
Photo showing penstock brickwork following repair work
The next stage was for the penstock gate to be repaired so it could be used in the future – by the welding and riveting of a new piece of steel on the existing gate and repairs to the mechanism which had been knocked out of sync.
A steel barrier has been designed and fitted in front of the gate to stop future logs from causing further damage whilst the Greet is in flood.