West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed confirmation that the Environment Agency is carrying out a full review of the Powick flood defences, including looking at raising the road and roundabout.

An investigation carried out by the agency confirms that the flood defence scheme built in 2011 was overtopped by the river Teme, but the defences did not ‘fail’.

The road and houses did, however, flood because the height of the permanent flood scheme was limited by the height of the main road.

The Environment Agency has written to the MP confirming it is now looking at the ‘standard of protection offered by the defence’ and working with Worcestershire County Council to see if the height of the scheme may be increased – along with raising the road.

The agency report also confirms that the concurrent flooding of the river Severn did not affect the issue. Local people had expressed concerns about the installation of large bunds and a construction site needed to support the building of the new Carrington Road bridge.

Harriett commented: “This is a complicated issue but the report makes it clear that the Environment Agency built a scheme which was the highest possible, fitting in with the current road network.

“With major roadworks currently happening from Powick across to the Carrington Road bridge, I hope that the agency is working closely with the county council right now to see if this issue can be mitigated quickly while a workforce is available and in place.

“We need to make sure that lessons are learned and the appropriate steps are taken to better protect homes, businesses and the vital link road between Worcester and Malvern.”