Shifnal gets £175,000 for flood defences
A town in Shropshire has scooped £175,000 to help defend properties in the area from flooding.
Shropshire Council has secured the funding for the scheme in Shifnal which will involve work on Priorslee reservoir to reduce flood risk.
The reservoir already helps reduce flooding, but the scheme will help to further reduce the flow of water into the Wesley Brook during heavy rainfall.
In 2007, the town was hit by flooding when water levels at Wesley Brook rose and flooded 60 properties.
Stuart West, county councillor for Shifnal South and Cosford, said: "This is really good news for Shifnal, especially to residents who live close to the Wesley Brook and have previously been flooded or close to being flooded.
"To be in a position to further control water exiting from Priorslee balancing lake, and further control the level of the Wesley Brook during spate conditions, is a really exciting prospect.
"All in all, a superb piece of news for Shifnal to start 2013 off."
The work will involve looking at Priorslee reservoir and altering the outfall structure in order to hold more water back.
Gordon Tonkinson, local Shropshire Councillor for Shifnal North, and chairman of the Shifnal and Albrighton Flood Forum, said: "I very much welcome this news as it's something local people and councillors have been campaigning for.
"I'm sure this proposed scheme will come as a relief to many whose homes have previously been flooded."
The first stage, which has already started, will assess how much additional water can be held back, and what effect this will have.
Mal Price, Shropshire Council's cabinet member responsible for flood and water management, said: "I'm really pleased that we have been able to secure funding for this much-needed project. It will go a long way to ensure that properties are protected from future flooding."
The work will be carried out in conjunction with Severn Trent Water, who own the reservior, The Environment Agency and Telford & Wrekin Council.
