MUCH of the major work taking place to prevent more flooding misery in Alcester has already been completed.

The Environment Agency is on schedule to complete a six-phase programme sometime in summer 2003, having already carried out half the required work.

The agency is currently conducting a feasibility study which will be taking a close look at the existing defences and the effect flooding is having on the town in general.

The work that will eventually be done on Alcester will be revealed during the feasibility study as any weak spots will be revealed.

It will show whether more measures, other than the six-phase plan which is now taking place, need to be carried out.

So far, three out of the six stages have been completed, which includes work at Gas House Lane and Malt Mill Lane where flood defences are being raised, completion of the eastern flood bank and desilting at Oversley Bridge.

And in the next few months, members of the public will be consulted on the remaining phases of the flood defence programme.