FLOOD defences costing about £3m will protect homes and roads in vulnerable parts of Worcestershire devastated in the summer of 2007.

Environment Agency bosses gave the go ahead today for flood defence schemes in Powick, Pershore, Uckinghall near Upton-upon-Severn and Broadway, near Evesham.

Kempsey, which also suffered in the devastating floods of July 2007, will not be granted funding this year for a flood prevention scheme but the case will be placed under review.

The £765,000 work is scheduled to begin later this year at Powick and will include the construction of a permanent flood barrier at the back of properties next to the A449.

The schemes were given the green light at the Regional Flood Defence Committee of the Environment Agency which met in Solihull today.

The Powick scheme is designed not only to protect residents but commuters who were forced into a 45-mile detour via the M50 to get to Worcester and beyond.

The chairman and founder of Powick Flood Forum, Chris Wreghitt, 50, of Powick was flooded twice in the summer of 2007, causing tens of thousands of pounds of damage to his home.

He said: “These defences are a huge relief. Until you are flooded yourself you don’t realise the effect it has on you.

"Every time it rains you think you’re going to flood again. It’s an awful feeling.

"It seems that our campaign clearly got the message across and we are all delighted with the decision.”

County Councillor Tom Wells said many local residents had only recently been able to return to their homes and one elderly woman in Powick had still not moved back in.

“The A449 is a major arterial route carrying over 23,000 vehicles each day and it is vital that it remains open at all times,” he added.

The scheme also received backing from the Highways Authority, which contributed £100,000 and Powick Parish Council which has pledged to contribute £10,000.

The flood victims themselves were able to make a financial contribution of around £1,000.

Local schemes also had the support of West Mercia Police, the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer and Harriett Baldwin and Richard Burt, both prospective Parliamentary candidates for West Worcestershire.

The schemes

Pershore: construction of an embankment next to the road up to the Severn Trent pumping station and a flood wall built through the allotments and a section of embankment through a meadow.
The final wall would run along the footpath on bridge street.

Powick: £765,000 scheme to build flood embankment to the north of the A449 and a new flood embankment in fields behind homes and farm buildings to the south.

Uckinghall: £750,000 scheme to protect over 30 properties by building a new flood bank to protect the village from the Severn.

Broadway: £550,000 scheme to protect 60 properties.

All projects are expected to be finished within the financial year 2010/11.