The government has revealed plans to protect at least 80 homes in a community regularly battered by flooding in recent years.
Residents of Prestolee and Stoneclough were devastated by flooding after storms hit on Boxing Day in 2015 and last February, causing the River Irwell to burst its banks and fill many homes with water.
A flood warning earlier this week brought back memories of the havoc caused to this community, with the constituency MP, Yasmin Qureshi, demanding parliament invest at least £5million for protecting homes and residents in the area.
The department for environment, food and rural affairs has now confirmed that a scheme is in development to start work to protect homes in the first half of next year.
A Defra spokesperson said: “We are investing more than £620m in flood schemes in the North West region, with the Environment Agency investing around £120m in the Irwell Valley to tackle flooding there.
“The proposed Prestolee and Stoneclough flood scheme will protect around 80 homes in the community as we continue to work hard to improve the resilience of the local community to the increased risk of flooding arising from climate change.”
The scheme to protect this community from floods is currently at the 'design stage', according to Defra, with an 'outline business' case currently being developed to start work on defences next year.
It is predicted this work would cost between £3-£5million with the government's 'Partnership Funding rules, Flood and Coastal Risk Management Grant-in-Aid (FCERM GiA) and Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy' paying for around 60 per cent of these costs.
Defra added that sediment has been removed from the River Irwell, temporary defences put up, and invasive plant species removed from the river bank to aid with the construction of any 'flood walls' necessary.
The Environment Agency aims to start construction on any permanent flood defence structures in 2023, to be completed by 2024.
Ms Qureshi told Parliament in her budget speech on Tuesday: "In my constituency the Environment Agency yesterday issued a flood warning.
"These are communities that have suffered year on year — they live in abject fear of flooding."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel