A TEAM of environmentalists has won an award for rescuing an underground river.
Until June 2004, the stretch of the River Quaggy running through Sutcliffe Park in Meadowside, Eltham, had been forced underground through manmade pipes to make way for development.
But after 10 months of work, which involved tracing underground pipes and digging out the ground, the Quaggy now flows freely above ground.
The Environment Agency decided to rescue the river, which flows from Orpington through Greenwich and on to Lewisham, as a flood defence.
If the area floods, there will now be enough capacity in the river to cope with extra water.
The team responsible for the work has been presented with the Living Wetlands Award by the RSPB and the Chartered Institute of Water and Environment Management.
They commended the regeneration project for tackling the issues of urban flooding, providing a new habitat for wildlife and a leisure retreat for residents.
Environment Agency officer Richard Copas said: "Sutcliffe Park is an integral part of the Quaggy flood alleviation plan.
"In times of a flood it can now hold the equivalent of 35 Olympic-size swimming pools, reducing the flood risk to 600 homes and businesses."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article