£200k spent on flood repairs in Shropshire

The most recent work to be completed was the flood defence work at a vulnerable bank on the River Vyrnwy in Melverley, near Shrewsbury.

There were about 175 yards of damaged flood embankment at Ark Corner in the village which has recently been repaired by the Environment Agency. The agency has been carrying out work across the country thanks to a £4.5 million programme to repair flood defences damaged by high tides and river levels during winter 2013/14.

Other works in the county include a new flood scheme at Battlefield Brook in Shrewsbury, the removal of a tree from the River Stine in Newport and work on a gauging station in Bridgnorth all of which have already been completed.

New trash screens are also to be installed in Pudding Brook at Cleobury Mortimer with work due to start in August.

Environment Agency spokesman Phil Foxley said: "It is important for us to get all these works done in Shropshire before October. There is only the one project which is now outstanding and we have been able to hit out targets and get them done quite quickly with most of the major work taking place in Gloucestershire.

"The other recovery work, which is in addition to our annual routine maintenance and inspection programme, is on schedule to be completed by the end of October this year."

There are major flood prevention measures already in place on the River Severn at Shrewsbury by Frankwell which has in recent times prevented water flooding the town centre as badly as it has been in the past.

There are also similar barriers at the Wharfage in Ironbridge. These are put up temporarily by the Environment Agency when the river levels are judged to rise to a point where the river may burst its banks.

Shropshire homes many rivers such as the River Severn, the River Vyrnwy, the River Strine, the River Teme, the River Lugg north of Leominster, and the River Rea, the River Perry and Rive Unk – all of which have been affected by flooding over the years.

The county was last plagued by flood misery in February of this year where roads were closed throughout the county for flooding as yellow rain warnings and heavy storms were forecast.