West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has expressed frustration at the delays which are holding up the construction of the permanent flood defences protecting Severn Stoke and the vital A38 main road. 

Harriett met with the Environment Agency and villagers shortly before the village flooded again to identify ways to speed up the construction of the defences and to ensure that it stays on track for completion this year. 

Worcestershire County Council, who will also assist in the construction project were asked to attend the meeting but we unable to send a representative. 

The current hold up requires that the Environment Agency find a contractor to carry out the work and to manage a series of archaeological and environmental studies. 

Last month, Harriett met with Environment Minister Rebecca Pow to update her on the progress at Severn Stoke and Tenbury Wells, which is also scheduled to get underway this year. 

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, commented:

“I am as frustrated and saddened as anyone that the Severn Stoke bund has not yet been built.  The number of bureaucratic hurdles has been astonishing and each one in turn has required me to spend time bringing the agencies, contractors and landowners together to unblock.  

“Just in the last twelve months I have chaired three meetings to make progress, including one last week.  I have also met with the Minister to make the case for the vital funding. 

“Some of the blockages are entirely administrative and I have urged the Agency to press on with this scheme and get the bund built this year.”