TWO KEY flood defence schemes in Tenbury Wells and Severn Stoke will be able to move forward this year with nearly £5million of public funding.
Flooding Minister Emma Hardy MP has written to West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett confirming that the permanent flood defence scheme in Severn Stoke is able to proceed and nearly £2million has been ring-fenced next year to support the installation of property-level protection for homes and businesses in Tenbury Wells.
The fund also includes support for Sedgeberrow, Upton-upon-Severn and a fund to support Worcestershire County Council.
The MP has lobbied the Minister and the chief executive of the Environment Agency to secure support for local schemes and she met with the chair of the English Severn and Wye Regional and Coastal Flood Committee to ensure that Tenbury’s project would be able to move forward.
Both schemes are expected to get under way this year with spades in the ground in Severn Stoke shortly.
Dame Harriett said: “These schemes have been my top priority since I was re-elected to be Member of Parliament for West Worcestershire in 2024 and it has taken a lot of time and effort to secure financial support at a national level.
“The pausing of Tenbury’s permanent scheme was disappointing but I am pleased that in the interim, the Severn and Wye Flood Committee was happy to divert funding to allow the installation of individual property protection after I made an urgent intervention with both the Minister and the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency.
“The long-awaited flood bund in Severn Stoke seems to have been on the drawing board for a decade but I am grateful to Flooding Minister Emma Hardy MP for her intervention and today’s confirmation that it is fully funded and ready to go.
“I plan to keep a close eye on both schemes and look forward to visiting both communities in the near future to see work underway.”
