Ideas sought to on river flooding risk

Environment Agency officials are consulting the public in a bid to prevent flooding misery in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

They hope people will come up with ideas on how to manage the flood risk along the River Severn.

The consultation, which takes place over the next few weeks, will form part of the Environment Agency's River Severn Catchment Flood Management Plan.

Ideas already include a flood barrage between Shrewsbury and Montford Bridge.

Another is to use rural areas as storage to stop floods from hitting major towns like Shrewsbury.

To take part in the consultation visit www.environment agency.gov.uk

Powys County Council's Montgomeryshire meeting heard of the plan yesterday.

Llandrinio member Graham Brown said using rural flooding areas to protect Shrewsbury could mean many more roads and homes in Powys being hit.

He said it would affect Llandrinio, Meifod, Caersws, Newtown, Llanfair Caereinion and Llanidloes.