A BID to install flood defences at Severnside South in Bewdley looks set to be given the green light after officials battled against the clock to beat the introduction of strict new funding guidelines.

The scheme was to be put on the back burner after it was announced it was unlikely to meet the government's new criteria for deciding which projects were given financial backing.

However those guidelines are not due to come into action until April 1 - giving the Environment Agency, which prepared the proposal on behalf of the town, time to submit its application ahead of schedule.

This means that the project stands a much stronger chance of being accepted for funding by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) under its present criteria.

Writing in this week's Shuttle /Times and News, MP for Wyre Forest Dr Richard Taylor said: "I have (Flood Minister) Elliott Morley's promise that this means it will not be held up by the new prioritisation criteria for flood defences which come into force on April 1."

The news comes as a close shave for the scheme which might have fallen into deep water had it been judged under the new scoring criteria.

The minimum number of points required to qualify for Defra funding as of April 1 is 22, of which Bewdley is estimated to have scored slightly less than eight.

The delay could have meant the loss of £1.8 million match-funding from grant agency Advantage West Midlands and the withdrawal of guaranteed insurance for businesses and homes by the Association of British Insurers.

Gill Holland, operations director for the Bewdley Residents Flood Committee said that residents on Severnside South could breathe a sigh of relief.

She said: "It is brilliant news for residents and businesses. The uncertainty has gone and I would now hope that Severnside South will have its flood defences up by 2007 at the latest."

Flood defences on Severnside North were completed last year.

Speaking from the Houses of Parliament Dr Taylor said: "It will be the completion of one and the same system. The development on the north needs the work on the south to be completed to be fully effective.

"I think it is safe to say that Severnside South is now safe.