Months of work after floods

Residents in a Shropshire village will face 18 months of disruption when multi-million pound work gets under way in an attempt to stop them suffering the flood devastation which wrecked havoc last year.

Managers from Severn Trent revealed their proposals for Albrighton, near Shifnal, at a public meeting last night. More than 60 residents turned out to hear what the future held for the village.

Anthony Crowther, acting area flood risk manager for the Environment Agency, said 72mm of rain - more than a month's rain - had fallen in just a few hours on July 4 last year.

He said the results of the hydraulic modelling exercise carried out since had shown the floods which devastated people's homes was a "one in every 150 year event".

He told the audience they had considered three main options but some did not have any impact on the water levels or was too expensive.

He said they had decided to work with Bridgnorth District Council to continue the clearance work of the brooks and water courses which would be funded by the revenue budget.

He said the work would get under way by Christmas or early in the new year.

Scott Taylor, from Severn Trent, said nine projects were either started or were due to be started costing a total of £4.7 million.

"As you can see we are not taking the matter lightly," he said.

"Over an 18-month period Severn Trent's presence will be fairly heavily felt in Albrighton."

Mr Taylor added that residents would receive a leaflet on the plans, an open day would be held on October 25 at The Red House with an evening session for traders and a customer care drop-in centre in the former photographers shop would be set up.

Works include three flood alleviation projects, pumping station projects and clean water projects.

A new pipe will be installed in a 4ft tunnel down the High Street and an overflow put in with a screen to catch the debris which has been blocking the water course.

Chris Butler, from Telford & Wrekin Council working on behalf of Bridgnorth District Council, told the residents where the problems had escalated from - with unknown pipes since being found and pinch points in the brook causing the water to rise.

By Kirsty Marston