Severn Stoke flood bund - materials on way to protect village

Severn Stoke has been hit by devastating floods in the past, the most recent this year, affecting homes, a pub and a church.

However, the work on building the bund may not start until the spring says the Environment Agency, leaving the landlord of the Rose and Crown pub praying for a dry winter. 

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When finished, the scheme is expected to bring peace of mind to residents, including the landlord of the 500-year-old Rose and Crown and churchgoers at St Denys', which has been serving the community for 800 years. 

FLASHBACK: The Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke earlier this year, showing sandbags to protect the pub (Image: NQ)

The pub has been particularly badly hit - closed for nine weeks earlier this year due to flooding.

Landlord Andy Goodall said the pub had been flooded three times in the last two years in February 2020, January 2021 and February this year.

The pub was closed for nine weeks in February, the landlord estimating that the business lost between £100,000 and £130,000 in sales.

He has also had to invest in six small pumps and two large ones and installed damp-proof membranes and sandbags to protect the pub, that work costing £2,000 alone. 

He said: "I can't afford to flood again. I just want it finished as soon as possible so we can carry on with our business with peace of mind, knowing it's not going to flood again.

"Every time we flood it costs £60,000 to put it right. We are just praying for a dry winter," he said.

Mr Goodall said the scheme had worked in Kempsey and that the engineers knew what they were doing. He said he would be glad to see the building materials arrive, having previously been told the scheme could be finished in December of last year.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Our plans for a flood scheme at Severn Stoke are well underway with materials due to start arriving on site at the beginning of September.

"Construction of the flood embankment will commence as soon as the weather permits, and this is anticipated to be early 2023. The scheme is due for completion at the end of the summer 2023 and will cost in the region of £1m.”

Worcestershire county councillor Martin Allen said he met on Friday with senior councillors and officers at Worcestershire County Council and a member of the Environment Agency in Severn Stoke, looking at the bund.

Cllr Allen of the Green And Independent Alliance Group, said the defences were urgently needed and he was pleased he had managed to persuade people who could make a difference to attend. 

He said: "The upshot is that on September 1 this year, all being well, the material needed to construct the bund is going to be arriving onsite.  Depending upon the weather, work will commence this Autumn or in Spring 2023."

He added: “Following this important meeting I am delighted that finally there is a chance of relief for the poor residents, the Rose and Crown pub and the church in Severn Stoke for an end to the yearly flooding.

"I count myself so lucky that both Cllr’s Mike Rouse and Richard Morris agreed to attend, they are respectively the cabinet members for Highways and the Environment at the County Council.  With a member of the Environment Agency also present we were able to seek assurances as to the timeline for action.

"There has been a shortfall in funding which was delaying the project, I am delighted to say that the county council have stepped into the breach and found the additional money.

Finally, this project is going to happen, I am so pleased for the residents.”