Severn flood scheme boost from parish coffers (From Worcester News)

Severn flood scheme boost from parish coffers

8:10am Monday 17th August 2009 in Search By Richard Vernalls , @rvernallsWN #worcsnews

FLOOD defence campaigners are celebrating after securing £5,000 from their parish council.

Kempsey Flood Action Group (FLAG) had asked the village’s parish councillors to pledge financial support to a proposed flood defence plan, worth £1.2 million, due to be decided next month.

Backers of the Environment Agency’s (EA) bund believe it will protect the village and prevent a repeat of the devastating floods which hit the village in summer 2007.

In July 2007, more than 180 homes were affected by flooding and the main A38 Worcester to Tewkesbury road, which links to the M50 motorway, was also closed for two days.

The regional flood defence committee (RFDC) will meet in September to decide if the scheme should go ahead.

Brian Clarke, FLAG spokesman, addressed councillors before they made their unanimous decision to pledge the cash if the plans get approval.

“The flooding situation in Kempsey is something which has been with us for many years,” he said.

“It is now the case there can be a feasible bid which will go before the RFDC in September.

“This campaign has brought the village together enormously and FLAG itself has raised more than £5,000.”

He thanked the parish council for its support.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and the traffic adviser to the chief constable of West Mercia Police have written supporting the scheme.

Worcestershire County Council has also already pledged money to the defences, if agreed, and Malvern Hills District Council has given over staff resources.

Coun Adrian Hardman, in charge of the county council’s finances, said he could not say exactly how much the council could pledge until the EA gave detailed costings.

“In the case of the Powick flood defence scheme which was £800,000, we have contributed about £100,000. So the money for Kempsey will be something around that,” he said.

Coun Hardman said costings were expected only after the regional flood defence committee meets on September 16.

“We’re awaiting the Environment Agency’s costings and they won’t do that until after the defence committee meets and the scheme gets the go-ahead.”

The pledge would come from the county council’s £2 million flood mitigation fund.

Your Worcester News was the only media organisation covering the Kempsey Parish Council meeting.