West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has offered her support to a scheme which would install automatic flood pumps to reduce flood risks in Tenbury’s Market Street.

The street has regularly flooded as the drains become overwhelmed with fast-rising water from the Teme and Kyre brook.

Harriett met with Worcestershire County Councillor David Chambers who has developed a funded plan which will see automatic flood pumps installed in Market Street to reduce risk of flooding.

The plan is currently with county council officers and the MP offered her support to the scheme which can be implemented alongside the current planning for a permanent flood defence scheme for the town.

Harriett said:

“I toured the town, with Councillor David Chambers to hear from people about how the latest flooding event affected them and, in particular, the issues faced by businesses in Market Street.

“I’m told that there is a plan on the table to install flood pumps which could reduce the risk of flooding and I have urged David to press on with his idea.

“We are all frustrated at the pace of work developing the permanent defence scheme and I hope that this latest flood event will focus the minds of the Environment Agency project managers.

“I am hopeful that we’ll see a fully-developed plan soon but in the meantime, I pleased that the county council could press on with it’s own flood protection measures in parallel to the wider flood defence project.”

Councillor David Chambers added:

“I have met again with officials from the Environment Agency who are supportive of the installation of automatic flood pumps in Market Street and am in constant dialogue with Highways and Environmental officers from the County Council. I am hopeful that we will see the pumps installed early in the New Year.

“Market Street floods independently, of the River Teme flooding Teme Street, as a result of rising underground water levels and excess surface water, which was the case a few weeks ago. Once installed, the automatic pumps will help prevent Market Street from flooding in these circumstance”.