£1.3m plan to cut Shropshire town's flood chaos
It will cost £1.3 million, but should see an end to dramatic scenes of flooding that have caused chaos in the past.
Councillors have backed the scheme to help prevent future flooding in a Shropshire town.
The project will see two attenuation ponds built to collect surface water running into Much Wenlock.
The ponds will be situated near Stretton Road and upstream near the caravan park at Sytche Brook after being approved at a meeting of Shropshire Council's south planning committee.
The scheme will be a joint venture between Much Wenlock Flood Alleviation Group, Shropshire Council and the Environment Agency.
David Turner, Shropshire councillor for Much Wenlock, said: "I support any ways of improving flood risks in Much Wenlock.
"The town has suffered from significant flooding over the years, particularly in the summer of 2007 and November 2008, when between 60 and 100 properties were flooded.
"The main issue for the town is heavy rainfall during the summer months, when the ground is already saturated and there is nowhere for the water to go.
"This would be a major contribution to flood alleviation in the town protecting the High Street and I am fully in support."
Councillor Turner said the second pond near Sytche Brook would protect a nearby electricity sub-station and houses near Farley Brook.
Building work will include a new hedge line and fencing for safety, while the ponds would be mainly hidden from view.
A flood alert and monitoring system to give residents an automatic warning when the town was at risk from rising waters has already been installed.
The original project was a joint effort carried out between the flood group, Much Wenlock Town Council, Shropshire Council, the Environment Agency and Hydro-Logic Services LLP.
Shropshire Council will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the ponds.
