DETAILED design work on the stalled £21m upgrade for Morpeth’s ageing flood defences will now gather pace after the vital project finally got the green light.

Relieved families were yesterday given the good news they had been waiting years for as the national board of the Environment Agency confirmed the town’s flood alleviation scheme had been granted final approval.

It was one of 60 flood and coastal risk schemes across the UK given the go-ahead by the Agency and Defra – meaning construction will start before April next year.

Work will continue on drawing up a detailed design for the Morpeth project at a cost of £2m.

The scheme includes a new flood storage area on the Mitford Estate, upstream from the town on the River Wansbeck.

It includes new flood defences being built in the Mitford Road, High Stanners and Oldgate Bridge areas, and the raising of flood walls in other parts of the town.

Further consultations are expected to be carried out by regional Agency officials so local people can help shape the final design of the scheme. Northumberland County Council will contribute up to £12m of the cost, with Defra providing £10.6m under new partnership funding arrangements.

Yesterday Alan Bell, chairman of the Morpeth Flood Action Group, said: “We are very relieved and happy the scheme has received approval. It had been widely predicted that it would, but yesterday was decision day.

“We now look forward to working with the Agency to ensure that the scheme goes smoothly, and is appropriate for all areas of Morpeth.

“We very much want improved flood defences, but we also want to retain the amenity of the river and for Morpeth to remain an attractive town.” Kim Andrew, the Agency’s flood and coastal risk manager for the North East, said: “We are delighted by the announcement. Together, the Environment Agency and the county council aim to reduce the risk of flooding to more than 1,000 homes and businesses in Morpeth.

“The announcement is the result of much hard work by ourselves, the local authority and the community. It is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by working in partnership. We aim to submit a planning application for the scheme this summer, and to start work early next year.”

County council leader Jeff Reid added: “This is a very important scheme for the community of Morpeth and we are pleased that, despite tough economic times, we have been able to commit funding to ensure that it goes ahead.”

The scheme will provide protection from the River Wansbeck against a flood similar in size to the one that devastated the town in September 2008.

It will also help reduce the risk of flooding from the Cotting Burn, Church Burn and Postern Burn.

Flooding minister Richard Benyon, who visited Morpeth earlier this week to meet local campaigners, said: “This announcement will bring huge relief to tens of thousands of households. Our investment will protect these communities from the devastating effects of flooding, and allow residents to live without the fear and worry of their homes being damaged. Small towns like Cockermouth and Morpeth became household names after the devastation and distress caused by flooding in recent years.

“Now, residents here and in many towns across the country are reaping the rewards of the partnership funding model brought in to enable more flood defence schemes to go ahead.”

Communities share their experiences

COMMUNITY leaders and youngsters gathered yesterday to share their flooding experiences with the aim of being better prepared for future events.

The Newcastle University project brought together local flood action groups and pupils at the Great North Museum in Newcastle.

The action groups came from communities which have been hit by flooding, such as Morpeth and Rothbury in Northumberland and Keswick in Cumbria.

Schools which took part included Berwick High, English Martyrs in Hartlepool, Kenton High from Newcastle and King Edward VI in Morpeth, plus Newcastle College.

Sponsored by the British Hydrological Society and the university’s Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability, the event mixed the scientists, teachers, community groups and schoolchildren to discuss the lessons learnt from flooding across the North East and Cumbria.

Newcastle University’s Dr Andy Large, who is leading the project, said: "Over the last decade, northern England has been hit by a series of major floods – Carlisle in 2005, Morpeth in 2008 and Cumbria in 2009 spring immediately to mind – and damage to property and livelihoods has been severe.

"Forecasts for UK river systems suggest a future increase in the number of these extreme events, and by the end of the century scientists predict we could see a 10-30% increase in the size and severity of UK rainfall.

"This has potentially devastating social and economic implications affecting people’s physical and mental health and disrupting and dispersing communities."

He said the event sought to draw on the experiences of grassroot community groups set up to improve and press for better flood protection and to also hear from youngsters about their experiences.

The project will produce a teaching pack for schools and a website where people can add their own experiences.