LABOUR MP Mike Foster today told "selfish" Worcester City Council to drop any objections to a £100,000 flood defence scheme for Hylton Road.

The council's Development Services and Review Committee has yet to approve the temporary barrier, which is being funded by the Government.

Mr Foster said they were stalling on the grounds the pallet barrier could be an "eyesore" - putting off tourists.

But he said the argument did not stand up as the defences would only be in use in winter months when the city was suffering heavy rainfall.

"The stance of the city council is stupid, selfish and short-sighted," said Mr Foster.

"To claim a temporary flood barrier would - when erected - be bad for tourism, is just unbelievable.

"What they should be concerned with is the welfare of the residents, the businesses which face financial losses and the impact on the city as a whole when there is flooding.

"The entire city gets gridlocked when it floods on Hylton Road."

Selfish

"The city council is risking thousands of pounds of Government grant by their selfish actions."

"Having worked with Worcester Action Against Flooding and businesses to get the Government to grant this money, I can't believe the council is hell-bent on throwing it back in the Government's face.

"This stance needs changing immediately."

Mary Dhonau, chairman of Worcester Action Against Flooding, has already urged the council to approve the barrier.

It can block the project by refusing to grant permission for the pallets to be loaded and unloaded from lorries when they are needed.

In yesterday's Evening News, Mrs Dhonau said: "Who cares a flying sausage what it looks like?

"Try telling the people in Hylton Road that it is not an attractive feature so the city council are not going to entertain the idea."

The committee chairman, Councillor Michael Layland, said even though they do not rule out the possibility of temporary flood defences, a special meeting with representatives of all the agencies involved needed to be arranged to answer questions about issues like costs and maintenance.