12:40pm Thursday 21st January 2010
By Richard Vernalls
FLOOD-HIT residents are celebrating after winning cash for new defences to protect their village.
Villagers of Kempsey, near Worcester, who campaigned for a new earth bund finally had their efforts rewarded following a key meeting yesterday.
The regional flood defence committee agreed full funding for the £914,000 Environment Agency scheme, after a unanimous vote.
Defences for Charlton, near Evesham, (£564,000) and Riddings Brook, Bewdley, (£434,000) are now on the shortlist for funding in 2011.
Residents’ campaign group Kempsey Flood Action Group (FLAG), which led the fight for defences, welcomed the news.
Cathy Garner, the group’s co-chairman, said: “It’s amazing news, of course we’re happy. The scheme had already been looked at in detail, so in the end it was a short discussion and a unanimous vote.” She praised the Environment Agency for its campaign support. The agency is now hoping to draw up a detailed proposal and will submit a planning application to Malvern Hills District Council later this year.
It is hoped work can begin on the clay bund and pumping systems by the summer.
FLAG has fought a long battle for defences after Kempsey had 180 homes flooded out in summer 2007 – about a tenth of the village. The A38 road was also cut off.
The group raised more than £6,000 towards the scheme organising and running a host of community events, and carrying out detailed research into the effect of the floods and the land upon which the bund would be located.
“We’ve had to jump through an awful lot of hoops to get this,” said Ms Garner.
“But we’ve got an awful lot from it as it has brought this village together.
“It is a credit and just reward for the hard work of this entire community.”
The bund and pump system is aimed at stopping river and surface water flooding, and would stretch from Church Meadow around the outlet of the Hatfield Brook to the west of the village.
Tim Farr, regional flood defence committee chairman, said the frequency of flooding in Kempsey – 23 times in 30 years – had made the scheme a “must do”. “The community though was effective because they were all about self-help and that goes a long way,” he said.
Roy Stokes, Environment Agency flood risk programme manager, said: “Now we’ll work on detailed plans and come up with two or three options, with a planning application later this year.
“I know people want this thing built but in reality it won’t be completed until after Christmas.”
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