Eardisland Flood Defence Update Expected Before Christmas

Residents of a village frequently affected by flooding have been informed that an update regarding proposed flood defence measures is expected before the Christmas period. The Environment Agency announced in April 2023 that Eardisland, located in Herefordshire, was among 53 “repeatedly flooded communities” designated to receive a portion of a £26m fund allocated for flood protection initiatives. Subsequently, the village has experienced two additional flooding incidents, yet no installations have been implemented. According to Parish Councillor Rebecca Rhys-Evans, residents had anticipated the commencement of work during the summer months. During a recent gathering, which included North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns and approximately 100 villagers, she stated: “It’s a hot topic, affecting so many people.” Ms Rhys-Evans recounted that a flood last month isolated the village for 48 hours, necessitating the fire brigade to traverse the water to assist an elderly resident, who is currently residing in a caravan. Following the meeting, the Green Party MP commented that villagers were “understandably very concerned” and affirmed her intention to pursue the issues she brought up and engage with the Environment Agency. An Environment Agency (EA) spokesperson stated: “We appreciate the devastating impacts that flooding like this has and want to reassure residents that we are working hard to progress the delivery of a scheme, which is affordable within the funding available.“We are continuing to liaise with the parish council and MP and should have a further update for the community before Christmas.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service, which reports on councils and other public service bodies, compiled this information. For more, follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.