West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has renewed her support for a permanent flood defence scheme to protect homes and businesses in Tenbury Wells.

The MP lobbied for funding for the permanent flood scheme under the previous Conservative Government and she has secured more than £7 million to help the scheme to get to the design stage.

Environment Agency experts have been carrying out consultation work and surveys to identify a final design but costs are rising well beyond the planned budget.

Dame Harriett met with the chief executive of the Environment Agency to repeat her support for the scheme and she agreed to convene a meeting with local stakeholders to identify way to keep the scheme affordable.

The permanent design involves a series of flood gates, walls and bunds to help to keep the town open during times of serious flooding.

Dame Harriett said:

“I had a constructive meeting with the chief executive of the Environment Agency who briefed me on the challenges getting a permanent scheme finalised and in front of the local planning committee.

“It has always been a challenge to scope the work but having started this battle in 2007, I’m fully committed to finding smart ways to keep the scheme affordable and deliverable.

“The scheme was initially hit by serious inflationary costs and I was able to press for an additional £2.5 million to help the scheme move forward on top of the £4.9 million initial budget.

“But the Environment Agency team have found that costs are likely to be much higher now and I am looking to work with the local authorities and other stakeholders to see if we can find smart ways to bring costs under control.

“The two outstanding scheme in West Worcestershire, in Tenbury and Severn Stoke, still have my full support and I will try everything I can to move both schemes forward.”