Environment Agency team up with water and environmental engineering specialists to protect South East against flood and coastal risks

ECS Engineering Services has signed a new Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Agreement for the South East with the Environment Agency. It covers all coastal, navigation and asset works and replaces an older framework agreement.

The areas included extend from Hertfordshire in the north, through London and the Thames Region to Kent, the South Downs, the Solent and the Isle of Wight.

“The Agreement allows us to be directly appointed for works up to a value of £50,000 and to tender alongside other registered suppliers for bigger jobs,” explains Dave Searle, ECS’s Contracts Manager for the region. “The average size of jobs is about £100,000, but of course some are much bigger than that, so can cover all types of work including new build, scheduled maintenance, repair and emergency call out.”

In detail the contract covers: minor civil engineering, low value project packages, early contractor involvement (feasibility studies, design, costings, etc.), routine servicing and intermittent maintenance of assets. In addition to inspection and repairs, installation of flow control structures, channel clearance, dredging and maintenance, works can involve telemetry stations, bridge maintenance and repairs as well as river management, restoration and soft engineering. ECS can also deliver the design, manufacture and installation of fabricated structures such as bridges, handrails, gates and fences.

“Under the Agreement we also provide emergency response cover,” says Dave. “This embraces just about anything, so can be very challenging – and rewarding. Naturally, emergency call-outs are often in winter, during bad weather or at night. However, we always react as quickly as possible, to resolve any situation that may have developed as a result of increased water levels.”

ECS Engineering Services has been a long-term supplier to the Environment Agency for all regions of the UK and has a reputation for delivering high quality, reliable and cost-effective engineering solutions. It specialises in bespoke design and construction of water, energy and environmental processing and management projects. Other clients include water, gas and electricity supply companies, the Highways Agency and other government bodies, internal drainage boards, builders and architects.