Whittlesey Washes Reservoir Bank Strengthening Scheme

Working in partnership with Fenland District Council, Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Interserve Ltd, Team Van Oord, Natural England, RSPB, Royal Haskoning and Arcadis.

£26 million scheme to improve the safety of a flood storage reservoir dam at Whittlesey by strengthening 16km of the reservoir & South Barrier Bank.

We created a clear communication plan at detailed design stage that prioritised the client’s objectives. We built and maintained excellent relationships with the local community, stakeholders and project teams. This gained trust and co-operation through transparency and honesty. Meeting with the community in person helped to gain a deeper understanding of local issues.  Responding to concerns as soon as possible also built respect and trust.

A range of communication techniques ensured engagement with everyone. We managed public consultations and drop-in events involving suppliers and key partners to alleviate community concerns.

Press releases, positive TV/radio interviews, briefings, newsletters, personal invitations to events, posters, project boards, social media and using partner websites created positive word-of-mouth within the community.

Proactive engagement with local schools, organisations and clubs also proved beneficial.

The project gained praise from the town’s Mayor, who wrote to express his thanks for the professional manner in which liaison with the local and wider community was delivered.

Want to speak to us about a project?

Get in touch with Monica at RYR today: monicastonham@ryrltd.com