SUPPORT the call for better flood protection for the main Malvern-Worcester road – that’s the message from campaigners to Worcestershire people.

Petition sheets have gone out to shops, pubs and other locations in Malvern, Powick and St John’s calling for approval for a £750,000 scheme for the A449 north of Powick.

The road was flooded in July 2007, virtually cutting much of the Malvern Hills district off from Worcester. The proposed scheme is aimed at preventing that happening again.

But the project will have to fight for funding with other flood defence proposals across the Midlands.

Public support is essential if it is to be approved by the Regional Flood Defence Committee at a meeting on January 7.

Chris Wreghitt, founder of the Powick Flood Forum, said: “We need to be able to show the committee that there is real support for this project. That’s why we need as many people as possible to sign our petition.”

Businesses and employers are also being urged to support the campaign.

Steve Guoite, store manager at Morrisons in Roman Way, one of the venues where the petition can be found, said: “Customers and staff need to be able to come to the store and go home, deliveries need to be made and all of this is much more difficult when the road is flooded.

“I was at our Evesham store during the floods in July 2007 and I can remember all the problems that it caused.”

Guy Weston, chief executive of Festival Housing, one of Malvern’s biggest employers, said: “As a significant local employer and provider of affordable housing in the Malvern Hills area, Festival Housing were hit by the floods of July 2007 along with many others in Worcestershire.

“It is now clear that flood defences are of urgent importance across the county to protect businesses and residents alike.”