MAJOR plans have been drawn up to provide better protection from flash flooding for Worcester homes.

It will involve bigger gullies, extra culverts and the handing out of emergency calling cards to ensure residents and businesses are able to cope better than last time.

Worcester City Council has responded to the flash floods of 2006 by producing a report on what some of the causes were and what is being done to better protect the city.

The report lists every street affected by the flooding, analyses the possible causes and suggests what can be done to stop it in the future.

People in all streets affected by the floods last year have also been invited to a special flood fair which will take place next week.

Joanne Doughty, owner of the Home Improvement Centre, Newtown Road, was affected by the floods in July last year, when one month's rainfall - 40mm, or one-and-a-half inches - fell in a day.

She said: "It's very good news that they are looking at this, because it's been a horrendous time for businesses around here.

"We only moved back in one month ago after trading from a Portacabin on the car park."

Jean Evans, who runs Niagra Windows and Doors, in Newtown Road industrial estate, said: "I just want something done to stop it happening again - we were flooded badly last year."

Barry Potter, the owner of Potter's butchers, in Astwood Road, said: "During torrential rain, water runs down Tunnel Hill towards Astwood Road, and cars drive past which help flood the area. Maybe this will help."

A decision is yet to be made on who will get emergency calling cards, but it is expected to be householders and business owners in all those areas that are classified as at risk'.

The card is being produced to avoid repeat scenes of last summer, when the city council hotline was overwhelmed by thousands of calls every hour.

Councillor Geoff Williams, chairman of the city council's scrutiny committee, produced the report and says there is still more work to be done.

He said: "It is still, to some extent, a work in progress. By its very nature, the impact of flash flooding is very difficult to predict.

"We have tried to draw on the floods in 2004 and 2006. It's about preparing ourselves so we are better able to respond to it."

THE CITY COUNCIL'S REPORT ON WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHERE

WARNDON VILLAGESProblem: flooding of properties. Main cause poor design in estate layout.

Action: No engineering solution. Need to target households when marketing the flood fair as they could benefit from using the types of domestic products on show.

BIRCHANGER GREENProblem: Overflowing watercourse. Culvert thought to be too small. Its design was approved by city council as part of planning process and council may have some responsibilities for it under the Land Drainage Act as it runs under public open space.

Action: City council to establish responsibility for the culvert and assess feasibility of enlarging it.Subject to checking that the culvert is not blocked, notice needs to be served on the owner.

COTSWOLD WAY/CRANHAM DRIVE/BLACKPOLE ROADProblem: Overflowing sewers. These roads flood in flash floods but flood water quickly subsides.

Action: No further action at this stage. Invite residents to flood fair.

KINGSTON AVENUEProblem: Flooding of properties Action: Environment Agency proposal to culvert down side of the canal and across into Barbourne Brook. Will be a large capital project and will need Environment Agency funding. This problem will not be resolved in the near future. A questionnaire has been sent to properties to aid modelling to justify the scheme, with a good response received to date.ASTWOOD ROADProblem: Road property flooding Action: Highways department looking to install bigger gullies.SCAFELL CLOSE/WARNDON GREEN/GLENRIDDING CLOSEProblem: Overflowing sewers.

Action: Severn Trent has accepted and secured funding for a capital scheme. Feasibility study to commence with possible start date of 2008.

LANSDOWNE ROADProblem: Flooding of properties Action: Highways improvements complete and further liaison with Severn Trent.NORTHWICK AVENUEProblem: Overflowing sewers. Not flooded to our knowledge in 2006, but did in 2004.

Action: Severn Trent to investigate sewers. Nearby improvement works in Park Avenue/Victoria Street may have solved the problem already.

NEWTOWN ROAD RAILWAY BRIDGESProblem: Overflowing watercourse ridges(Three Springs Brook) Action: Road floods for about 20 minutes and then subsides. Difficult to find a solution. May have to live with this problem. No residential properties flooded but check retail properties.MERSEY ROADProblem: Possible sewer problem Action: Severn Trent has filmed sewer and cannot see any problems. Possible capacity issue though size of sewers are currently meeting Ofwat guidelines. Invite to flood fair.VINCENT ROAD/CECIL ROAD/STANLEY ROADProblem: Overflowing sewers and culvert watercourse Action: Severn Trent project devised and due to be delivered by June 2007 to increase size of sewers and store of excess water.THREE SPRINGS INDUSTRIAL ESTATEProblem: The culvert has collapsed.

Action: The city council need to ensure landowners keep the culvert clean.

As it is on private land a notice under the Building Act has been served but no action has been taken by the owner. A notice under the Land Drainage Act will now be served.

PARK STREETProblem: Cellars flooding.

Action: Gulley is critical. Highways department carrying out more regular gulley cleaning, targeting at risk areas. Need to find out where gulley discharges to.

COMMANDERY ROAD/BATH ROADProblem: Cellars flooding Action: Severn Trent has advised housing association to do some remedial work to prevent water from highways entering their properties. Invite housing association to flood fair.CANTERBURY ROAD/CARLISLE ROADProblem: Overflowing sewers/highway design Action: Severn Trent completed works in this area and highways have removed speed humps in road. No further action at this stage.TYBRIDGE STREETProblem: Overflowing sewers on road Action: Severn Trent to inspect sewers and arrange for hinged covers to prevent them completely lifting.MALVERN ROADProblem: Road flooding/ road drainage problem.

Highways department suspects connections to gullies are broken.

Action: Will inspect and repair. City council needs to regularly clean this road.