Nearly £4.5 million spent on Shropshire flood defences in four years

Cash has been used to pay for the £2.4 million Coleham Head flood risk management scheme in Shrewsbury, while £96,000 went on Ash Brook channel improvements in Church Stretton and £75,000 on a flood alleviation scheme in Much Wenlock.

Most of the money – £2.868 million – was spent in 2010/11 when the Coleham Head project was being developed. Cash was spent in Much Wenlock the following year and in Church Stretton in 2012/13.

About £2.53 million has been spent on capital projects since 2010 and almost £1.7 million – just over £400,000 a year – on maintenance projects. A further £41,000 of "recovery spend" was racked up through work at Arc Corner in Melverley and Battlefield Brook in Shrewsbury, and tree removal at Strine Brook in Newport following the winter of 2013/14.

The figures were revealed by Dan Rogerson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in the House of Commons after Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski asked for details through a Freedom of Information request. The MP has since praised the work of the agency, claiming it has gone "beyond the call of duty".

According to the agency, £493,000 was spent in 2011/12, £526,000 in 2012/13 and £483,000 in 2013/2014.

Maintenance work, which included managing watercourses and inspections by staff, has risen gradually over the past four years.

About £406,000 was spent in 2010/11, followed by £418,000 the following year and £430,000 in 2012/13. The figure rose to £442,000 in 2013/14.

Mr Kawczynski said: "I wanted to get that figure from the Government because I feel that the Environment Agency locally do a superb job and I think we have to keep highlighting the extraordinary work they do and how they go beyond the call of duty.

"The Shrewsbury area has suffered with flooding and I have spoken to a lot of businesses who have shown me their books.

"The takings not only fell when Shrewsbury was flooded but they massively fell during the clear up when businesses were back to normal.

"This is because the national media highlighted that Shrewsbury was flooded without highlighting that it had cleared up.

"In the recent increase in water saturation the consensus seems to be that the Environment Agency has done a good job.

"So it's very beneficial for Shrewsbury and something that needs to be celebrated.

"If there are any constituents in the area who do still feel that they are vulnerable to flooding, I would appreciate it if they would contact me because there is always more that can be done."