The Environment Agency and Pershore Town Council will be formally launching the second phase of work on the Pershore Flood Alleviation Scheme by cutting the first piece of turf on the allotments near Nogains. The ceremony will mark the start of the construction of the flood wall on the allotments with the Mayor of Pershore, Cllr Chris Parsons MBE, making the first cutting. After extensive flooding in the town in the summer of 2007 we undertook a viability study for the scheme in November 2007, with funding granted from the Severn Trent Regional Flood Defence Committee in January 2009. The scheme will protect 61 properties from river flooding. As part of construction silt will be cleared from blocked flood relief culverts under Bridge Street and a new flood relief channel will be constructed to allow the culverts to function better during high flows. This will help reduce flood levels upstream of the bridge, which affect farmland and the village of Wick, as well as other properties in Pershore. The material excavated from the flood relief channel will be used in construction of the embankments. The majority of material for the flood embankments, including approximately 15,000 cubic metres of clay, will be transported by barge from Birlingham, which saves over 3,000 lorry trips and 15 tonnes of CO2. The scheme will also enable the creation of a wetland site in Birlingham providing two hectares of reed bed and open water and 13 hectares of wet grassland. The habitat will protect and enhance the environment for a variety of living species. The wetland site will be developed in partnership with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and a local landowner, who is keen to create a reserve as a memorial to her late husband John Bennett, after who the reserve will be named. Cllr Chris Parsons MBE, Mayor of Pershore says: “The floods of 1998 and 2007 caused much devastation to a large number of homes in Pershore and it is encouraging that the Environment Agency are now installing a flood alleviation scheme which will hopefully minimise the risk of future such incidents. The Town Council have worked together with the Environment Agency over the past months and are pleased that today we see the scheme coming to fruition. We are extremely grateful for the cooperation given by allotment tenants during the construction of these flood defences.” Harriett Baldwin, MP for the area says: "Residents of the properties affected by flooding in this area will be relieved to see work starting on this scheme. I look forward to working with the Environment Agency to make progress on the other schemes across the constituency of West Worcestershire." Peter Luff, MP for the neighbouring constituency says: “Alleviating flood problems in Pershore should also bring real benefits to my constituents upstream of the town, in Wick. I look forward to discussing these issues with the Environment Agency soon. I welcome this important milestone in addressing flooding issues along the Avon.” Area Manager, Dafydd Evans, says: “This marks an important day for Pershore. We are pleased that we are able to work with the community to reduce their risk of flooding. The first phase of the scheme has been completed with the flood proofing of two buildings on Bridge Street. The site is now set up for construction of flood walls, embankments and excavation of the wetlands at Birlingham, which is the second and final phase of the scheme. Completion of the scheme is anticipated for August 2010.”