WORK at a former landfill site to prevent Marlbrook homes from flooding can go ahead following the resolution of a bureaucratic blunder.

Liberty Construction boss Eddy Mcintosh was baffled when Worcestershire County Council ordered him to fix a blocked culvert at Marlbrook tip - when only weeks before Bromsgrove District Council was granted an injunction to halt the repairs.

The district council has now backed down and agreed to the work, but Mr Mcintosh believes the mix-up wasted his, and taxpayers' cash.

A county council's inspecting engineer's report branded the Alvechurch Highway reservoir unsafe and called for immediate action to protect neighbouring homes from flooding.

The authority was not aware an injunction had been served and a spokesman said: "Unfortunately there are no national guidelines stating we must consult with other authorities on such matters."

The district council has battled for ten years to find a solution to the drainage difficulties associated with the culvert passing through the site - including action in magistrates and high courts.

Bob Lewis, the authority's corporate director and district secretary, said: "Our position is relatively straightforward. We expect the landowner to undertake the works recommended by the reservoir engineer, which perhaps would not have been so urgent if the level of water in the pond had been maintained at a low level, but no more."

Mr Lewis said the landowner's own engineer concluded works which he believed were needed to ensure the safety of people, did not necessitate Mr Mcintosh's grand scale of work.

Mr Mcintosh wants to build a golf course at the former tip.

He initially sought planning permission to resolve drainage problems, including the blocked culvert, but district councillors ignored officers' advice and refused his application.

He said: "I've always been happy to take responsibility for this work - it's been unsafe for many years."

Many residents opposed Mr Mcintosh's plans because of the disturbance it would create.