5:20pm Friday 6th August 2010
By Chris Wood
WORK to protect homes in Newport from flooding was delayed after what experts think may be an unexploded World War Two bomb was found at the site, the Environment Agency said.
The agency is replacing and extending an existing flood defence wall to protect more than 400 homes in the Riverside area from flooding during severe tides.
Work started along the banks of the River Usk in January but has been delayed because of the discovery of what a spokesman called “an unidentified metal object” in February.
Workers for contractor White Green Young discovered the object about seven metres below the river bed while sinking bore holes for the new concrete wall.
The Environment Agency consulted disposal experts but said they cannot be certain that the object is a bomb.
A spokeswoman said: “The safest thing to do is not disturb it. However, given Newport’s history as an area that was extensively bombed during World War Two, there is a possibility that the object could be an unexploded war bomb.”
An explosive disposal company authorised by the Home Office investigated and concluded that the work will not increase risk to residents, because of the object’s depth and position in the river.
In the highly unlikely event of it exploding, the depth of silt and water will suppress the blast, they said.
Further tests will now be carried out to make sure there are no other metal objects along the line of the flood wall.
These will begin on August 9, lasting four weeks.
Nearby resident Lianne Bowen said she was not surprised by the find: “We found one about a metre long in my garden five years ago and a bigger one was found in a drain. This area was heavily bombed.”
* A drop-in session for residents will take place at the Church of Christ Hall, East Usk Wall and Riverside, on Monday, from 5pm to 7pm.
Call the Environment Agency on 01633466063 for more information.
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