VILLAGE residents will have to wait longer before getting flood defences because of newts.
Those living in Severn Stoke have seen delays in receiving vital flood defences after great crested newts were found near the site on the A38.
Work on the scheme started earlier in the year with soil being moved onto storage areas around the village.
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The soil will become the bund protecting the A38 road and the often-flooded houses, churches and pubs.
Archaeological studies will continue later this month, and a wall will be constructed around the sites to try and prevent the spread of Great Crested Newts, a protected species.
Once the newts are identified and removed, a contractor will start construction of the bund during the summer.
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The work will continue this year and early next year, but the Environment Agency has pledged to implement extra flood defence measures to protect the village this winter.
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has been campaigning for the permanent flood protection scheme for over ten years, and she pledged to continue work to ensure the project is delivered as quickly as possible.
MP Baldwin said: “Naturally, I am disappointed that the current delays in building the bund now mean that we have to wait to trap the dreaded Great Crested Newt.
“I am grateful for the latest update from the Environment Agency and welcome the pledge to use extra flood defence measures to protect the village because of these unplanned delays to the permanent scheme.
“I have been campaigning for this scheme for more than a decade, and I am grateful that the local villagers have shown great patience as this scheme is developed and delivered.
“There has been a lot of misinformation spread in recent weeks, and I wanted to share the latest news from the Environment Agency to reassure local people that we remain committed to delivering one of the last two permanent flood defence schemes in my constituency.
“In April, the Government awarded an extra £750,000 to support this scheme, and I continue to keep a close eye on the project management team as work continues throughout this year.”
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