RELIEF is finally in sight for long suffering Rubery residents whose lives have been blighted by flooding during the last two years.

Householders in Callowbrook Lane have had their homes flooded at least four times in 18 months but no action has been taken to tackle the problem because of a dispute over the ownership of a culvert in Brook Road Recreation Ground.

However, the end is now finally in sight for fed-up residents because a decision on how to tackle the problem will be made and the contract to carry out the work is to be handed out in the next few weeks.

In December 2000, after years of wrangling about responsibility for the floods, Worcestershire County Council agreed to pay £85,000 towards remedial work on the culvert beneath Callowbrook Lane.

A few months before Bromsgrove District Council served notices to householders, who it claimed also owned the culvert, demanding it was cleaned out.

Worcestershire county councillor Peter McDonald (Lab, Rubery) is delighted at the news.

He told the Advertiser/Messenger: "After two years and no help from Bromsgrove District Council the work to alleviate flooding in Callowbrook Lane should be starting soon.

"It is very good news for concerned residents living nearby -- I welcome it but I wish it hadn't taken so long.

"The district council refused to accept its obligations and the county council had to find the money on its own."

Cllr McDonald is hopeful the culvert will be extended into Brook Road Recreation Ground which means any flooding would be contained within the park and away from houses.

Worcestershire Highways Partnership in Bromsgrove manager Jon Fraser said one tender for the work had suggested an alternative to the proposed concrete channel scheme.

He added: "They feel it would be just as effective and easier to construct, and we are considering it at the moment.

"We hope to award the contract in the next few weeks."