A MAJOR two-phase project to protect a county village from future flooding is being investigated by the county council.

Worcestershire County Council is looking into raising the A449 and improving flood protection at Powick roundabout.

The village was devastated by floods in February, with as many as 30 families being forced to leave their homes.

The first phase could be carried out while the current Southern Link Road works are being done, while the second phase would come in the future.

Alongside this planning, the Environment Agency is working with the council as it looks at ways to improve the Powick flood defences. A full report is expected later this year.

February’s floods devastated Powick, with many families being almost entirely cut off by the deluge. In the village itself, families were housed in the Abbey Hotel and nearby Stanbrook Abbey, while residents of the Powick Mill complex were forced to wade out through the water to get out.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin welcomed the news, saying she had met with residents about their concerns.

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She said: “The flooding had a devastating impact on villagers in Powick and the closure of the roundabout resulted in serious traffic delays. Both issues are closely linked, and I am glad that the Environment Agency and the county council are working together to identify potential solutions.

“There is a major road improvement project already underway along the A4440 and it would make sense to identify if this work can be enlarged to improve the Powick roundabout. I am told that experts have already confirmed this is possible and the county council is looking at ways to fund this extra work.

“Keeping the Powick roundabout and main road open is essential during times of serious flooding and if this also means that we can deliver better flood defences, that would be a huge step forward.”

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Last month, the Environment Agency announced it would carry out a review of the Powick flooding.

A preliminary investigation carried out by the agency confirmed that the flood defence scheme built in 2011 was overtopped by the river Teme in February, but the agency said the Powick defences “did not fail”.

According to the investigation, the road and houses flooded because the height of the permanent flood scheme was limited by the height of the main road.