More flood defences to be built in Cubbington

A five-year campaign led by villagers Reg Smith and Malcolm Storer to have a new flood alleviation scheme built in the village has now come to fruition with work due to start at the end of August and set for completion by March 2013.

Defra has put £700,000 towards the scheme after a change of policy concerning its responsibility for surface water flooding came into action in April.

Warwick District Council will also put £100,000 towards the project having previously matched £5,000 payments from Warwickshire County Council and Cubbington parish council to cover surveys and planning.

Kenilworth and Southam MP Jeremy Wright backed the campaign and arranged for Mr Smith and Mr Storer to meet Defra minister Richard Benyon last year.

Mr Storer, who was forced to move out of his house in New Street for seven months after floods caused extensive damage to almost 50 houses in the village in June 2007, said residents still get nervous whenever there is heavy rain and it would be a relief for them once the alleviation scheme is in place.

He added: “We still put flood boards up whenever there is heavy rain forecast.

“But I love this village and I would never want to move away.

“I suppose I’ll have to find something else to campaign about now, maybe stopping HS2. It has all been worth it.”

The alleviation scheme, made up of a large basin and a sluice pipe which will release water at a controlled rate, will be located at the top of Mill Lane.

It will take water underneath the Welsh Road and out to the Pingle Brook near the Thwaites factory.

The lower parts of Cubbington stayed flood-free during the recent downpour but the bridge over the River Leam at Offchurch was impassable for a few days.