ONE of the most important developments to take place in Bewdley will get under way on Monday as work begins on a massive £7 million flood defence scheme.

Gas, electricity and water experts will be a familiar sight on Severnside South as engineers race against the clock to carry out preparatory work to make the road safe for flood experts.

The job is expected to take about six months.

It will see delays hit residents and road users as the popular riverside street is closed to through traffic and supplies are shut off to homes and businesses.

The project is expected to be completed by next spring, when the Environment Agency will begin a two-year operation to lay the groundwork for a demountable flood defence barrier.

Gas operator Transco will be first in with the diggers on Monday to move a giant 285 metre long pipe out of the way, a task expected to take about six weeks.

Transco spokeswoman Jane Taylor said the work - to be carried out by contractor Amec - will see gas supplies cut off for half a day at the most, with the sound of drills set to ring out from 8am until about 4.30pm.

Electricity lines will also be moved during this period by Aquila - formerly the MEB - which will involve shutting the power down, at seven days notice.

A major building project will then be undertaken by Severn Trent Water which will see an "interceptor" sewer laid under Severnside South and a pumping station erected at Gardners Meadow Car Park.

The sewer will take rain water - currently pumped from the streets into the river at Lax Lane - to the pumping station, where it will be held until the Severn is back to a "safe" level where the water can be let out, said spokeswoman Gill Turton.

She said the sewer and the pumping station would be installed at different times to avoid disruption although Gardners Meadow will be closed when the pumping station is being installed.

The water supply will not at any time be turned off and the car park will be open for the Christmas period, said Roger Prestwood, project manager for the scheme at the Environment Agency.

He said: "The work has to be done to allow the flood defence scheme to be built safely."

An exhibition of all the preparatory plans will be held at Bewdley Museum, Load Street, tomorrow between 11am and 5pm.