June 2011
Halcrow’s ‘dirty work’ on behalf of the Environment Agency made its way to the small screen, featuring in Channel 5’s Supersize Grime programme in June.
Click here to watch the show (episode five). Halcrow's work is featured at 7 minutes, 50 seconds. The cameras return at 20 minutes, 30 seconds and 28 minutes.
The Waltham Cross flood defence asset surveys team undertakes inspections of around 2,000 culverts, bridges, outfalls and large diameter pipes in the Thames north east catchment area. The team reviews infrastructure that cannot be accessed by the Environment Agency’s asset inspectors.
The Environment Agency’s project manager was contacted by Channel 5’s production team on the hunt for big clean-up jobs. At the time, the Halcrow team was pondering the best way to remove a boat jammed in a small culvert, the blockage having been identified through a CCTV survey.
Asset surveyor Ryan Thomas, who was on set with the television crew, said: “The crew spent the day filming the CCTV contractor working, while I was on hand to give direction to ensure the boat was removed safely. It’s probably safe to say the programme dramatises events somewhat!”
Halcrow has worked with the Environment Agency since 1999, initially gathering data to populate the Environment Agency’s national flood and coastal defence database, followed by work to inspect and condition grade all the flood defence assets within the local catchment area. This part of the project will be spread out over five years before continuing in five-year cycles.