A LONG-AWAITED scheme to protect up to 870 homes in the event of flooding is finally due to begin.

Work on the £46 million flood defence scheme is expected to start in Close Park, Radcliffe, on Monday.

However, to enable the first phase to go ahead, about 370 trees, including saplings, will have to be chopped down.

The Environment Agency (EA) said it intends to plant five trees for every one that is felled, introducing some 1,850 new trees to the park and surrounding areas.

Colette Jones, chairwoman of Radcliffe and Redvales Flood Action Group, said: “It is amazing to think work is finally starting but even more wonderful that the work is due to be completed by the end of the year. Residents will really welcome this as it will finally give them peace of mind.

“It is sad that we have to lose so many established trees in the park but a lot are old and need replacing so in the long run it will be good.”

Existing plans for the scheme will see a 2.5m flood wall built at the rear of properties in Parkside Close, and a 3m-high earth embankment on the far side of the park, with football pitches acting as floodplain.

As part of the preliminary works, a number of “low quality” trees in and around the park will have to be cut down, which according to the EA is “unfortunate but essential to enable the construction of the new defences.”

As part of the project, trees will also be cleared along Dumers Lane. The EA is due to write to residents directly affected by this work.

The EA said it plans to use the timber from the felled trees "to reduce flood risk" at another flood risk management project in New Mills, Derbyshire.

Christian Wilcox, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, said: “We know the next phase of works will bring some disruption, including some increased traffic around these areas, and there will be unavoidable environmental impacts, which we are working hard to minimise.

"About 370 trees will unavoidably need to be removed but many of those are classed as low quality and would have needed removing for arboricultural reasons regardless of the scheme.

“From the start of the planning process for the Radcliffe and Redvales scheme, we have worked very closely with the local community and key partners to share all the development options with residents and gain further local knowledge and insight around the scheme proposals going forward. We met with representatives of the Radcliffe Flood Action group and Friends of Close Park yesterday to discuss the tree clearing. They were supportive of the work we are doing as it is an early sign of activity towards construction of the new flood defences in this location.

"Reducing the impact on trees through the town has been a key consideration in designing the scheme, and once it is complete there will be more trees in Radcliffe than before we started the works, delivering a green legacy for everyone to enjoy."

The scheme, overseen by the Environment Agency in partnership with Bury Council, will feature raised flood defences at key locations along the river’s edge. The EA said the scheme will create new wildlife habitat, green spaces and amenity areas for the public.