Work set to start on flood defence scheme for town

The Environment Agency project will take nine months to complete and cost £3.5 million.

It will protect the town from being inundated by the River Avon and the three smaller rivers - Ashford Water, Sweatsford Water and Allenbrook - when they burst their banks.

Town council clerk Helen Tague said: "Fordingbridge welcomes the flood defence scheme in view of the flood problems we've had in years past, and I'm sure that we will all work together with the Environment Agency to make it as effective as possible."

The town council had some concerns about losing the children's play area in the riverside recreation ground, which would be taken up by a pumping station and outfall pipe.

"We're not losing any play equipment but the amount of area left to the public will be reduced for picnicking and things," she said.

Former mayor, Cllr Jean Willis, said the town desperately needs the flood defences but was worried about the loss of the play area.

"I'm concerned about the loss of space for our young children. It's free, it's by the river and it's absolutely delightful down there, and we want to keep our playground as it is now," she said.

Deputy mayor, Cllr Alan Lewendon, said he was looking forward to the scheme being completed.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We're hoping to get contractors working on the scheme in early June."

Work should be completed by March 2006.

The project involves building one-metre-high defence walls and banks both north and south of Bridge Street to protect homes and businesses there and at Roman Quay.

A wall up to 1.6m high will be constructed north of Southampton Road between the A338 and East Mill Farm.

A culvert will carry flood water away from Shaftesbury Street and a ditch will be piped at Ashford Meadow.

In addition, a new one-and-a-half-mile-long bypass channel up to 16 metres wide will be dug to carry water from the western area of the town to the River Avon just north of Harbridge Green.

First published: May 13