HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds is expected to be invested into preventing flooding in Worcester after the Government unveiled a new plan to tackle rising river levels.
Flood-hit areas including Diglis and Barbourne are set to benefit from almost £800,000 which will be spent on bolstering the city’s flood defence systems.
The cash injection forms part of the Treasury’s six year plan worth £2.3billion as the Government looks to increase its protection of 465,000 homes and businesses.
A total of £475,000 will be pumped into the Barbourne Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme which experts hope will reduce the risk of flooding to several large industrial units and residential properties along the brook.
Further plans include a £120,000 scheme for property level protection in the Diglis area which will help 20 households estimated to be delivered between 2018 to 2021.
There are also plans for a wider £200,000 projects for property protection within Worcester during the six year programme, with houses on Toronto Close and in the Lower Wick area likely to be high on the agenda.
Worcester MP Robin Walker welcomed the investment into the city as the three schemes would protect at least 55 more homes in Worcester from flooding.
“I am delighted that following the terrible impact of February’s floods, we are seeing further investment in flood defences in Worcester,” he said.
“As part of a national package that sets out long term plans on flood defences this will help to protect homes and improve flood resilience.
“I remember seeing some of the damage done by flooding at Barbourne Brook in 2007 and I know that Diglis was one of the hardest hit areas of the city in 2014.
“Getting targeted help to these areas and to individual homes across Worcester is the next step forward in reducing flood risk for the future.”
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss MP, who recently visited Worcester to see flood defences and hear about the aftermath of the floods in February, added: “We are spending £3.2 billion in flood management and defences over the course of this parliament – half a billion pounds more than in the previous parliament.
“This, combined with the record level of investment in capital we have set out today, will improve protection to 465,000 homes and businesses by the end of the decade.”
