THE COST of a project to build permanent flood defences in Severn Stoke appears to have been reduced after council bosses stepped in to offer reclaimed soil.
Worcestershire County Council leader Coun Adrian Hardman has written to Harriett Baldwin, West Worcestershire Conservative Parliamentary candidate, confirming spare soil from major construction projects could be diverted to help build bunds in the flood-hit village.
Mrs Baldwin said: “There are many major construction projects underway across the county and it makes sense to save some of this left-over soil to put it to good use in Severn Stoke.
“This kind offer by Adrian Hardman will mean we can look to reduce the overall cost of flood defences even further, reducing the cost to the public purse.
“I have always said we need to be smart to try and find ways of making the Severn Stoke scheme cheaper and this is one important step in the right direction.”
