RESIDENTS in Tenbury Wells have welcomed the news the Environment Agency (EA) has secured the funding to allow individual property protection in the town.
The organisation previously told West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin and residents at the beginning of this week that although no decision on the funding had been made, the funding had not been earmarked for the town.
The EA previously said the money was available but needed to be spent with urgency as a new Spending Review period would start in April 2026.
On Tuesday (October 14) the MP said she would call an urgent meeting with Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy and Flooding Minister Emma Hardy who last wrote to Dame Harriett in July pledging that the work would be carried out in 2026.
The U-turn comes after residents took to social media to show their disappointment in the decision.
One said: “That such a beautiful town as Tenbury Wells can not be protected from flooding is terrible.
“And it is far from the only community along the river that suffers. It seems unbelievable that technological solutions aren’t available that could constrain the excesses of the River Severn down the whole of its length.
“So many people’s livelihoods and homes are regularly inundated.”
Both pledged to look again at the issue and the English Severn and Wye Regional and Coastal Flood Committee, which has to make recommendations on flood funding budget allocations for local projects, has agreed to move Tenbury into its funding programme for delivery next year.
At the meeting, the committee heard that a budget allocation can be moved from a flood defence repair scheme to support Tenbury’s property-level protection.
They were also told that the scheme has the full support of the Flooding Minister and the Environment Agency is committed to proceeding with the project.
Dame Harriett said: “I lobbied the committee last night and also spoke to the Minister and the Environment Agency to make sure it is everyone’s top priority.
“The committee has the power to allocate budgets to local projects and this change in budget will be welcome news for people living at risk of flooding in Tenbury.
“The budget still needs the approval of the Government and I will keep lobbying the relevant people in Westminster to overcome this latest hurdle.
“Tenbury will flood again and it could not be more important that the surveys are carried out while the Environment Agency finds the cash to deliver the work next year, as originally promised.”
