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<p>The Environment Agency (EA) is continuing to work with partners and the local community
to reduce the impacts of flooding in Severn Stoke. The EA is undertaking further modelling
and assessments of a proposed design for a flood alleviation scheme. Given the small
rural community, this project is an economically challenging scheme and the EA is
working with wider professional parties to identify a suitable delivery route and
viable way for the scheme to be built. Subject to planning approval and adequate funds
being in place it is anticipated that work can commence on site in 2020 to ensure
completion during 2021. The EA anticipate the local community will be able to submit
an outline planning application this winter.</p><p> </p><p>Tenbury has suffered from
extensive flooding on a number of occasions with direct impacts affecting homes and
businesses. An economic appraisal of the feasibility design completed in 2007 estimated
that delivery of a full flood defence scheme would cost around £5.5 million. However,
the scheme as it stands is unlikely to attract more than £1 million of Flood Defence
Grant in Aid, leaving a substantial partnership funding gap.</p><p> </p><p>The EA
are currently updating this appraisal to re-assess the scale of defences required
but do not anticipate the revised potential costs to have changed significantly, they
may have potentially increased. Because of the funding deficit, the scheme will not
be able to progress until significant contributions have been secured. The EA are
reviewing all delivery options for the scheme, including engaging with Local Enterprise
Partnerships, businesses and the local authority and continues to look at strategic
options.</p><p> </p><p>The EA continues to actively work with local flood action groups
in both locations. In the meantime property level flood resilience measures were installed
to a limited number of properties between 2010 and 2012 and these were in operation
last weekend.</p><p> </p>
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