TEN years after Tenbury was hit by flooding that devastated parts of the town and finished off businesses the town is no nearer a permanent solution.

Mark Willis, Mayor of Tenbury, has said that it is a case of when and not if there is another major flood and Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire that includes the town, has failed to secure funding for a proper flood-defence scheme.

There have been some damage-limitation measures put in to place but a proper defence scheme looks as far away as ever.

Ten years ago, the Environment Agency put a £5 million price-tag on flood-defences and told the town that it does not qualify under Government rules.

Engineers have ruled out arm’s length solutions such as creating a flood-storage area upstream from Tenbury or deepening the River Teme so it can carry more water.

These solutions would not work and the only solution would be a flood wall around much of the town.

People have been told that shorter stretches of flood walls and banks would risk just directing flood water to another part of the town.

But Mark Willis believes that some minor improvements have been made.

“In 2007 we saw flooding due to the levels of both the River Teme and Kyre Brook,” he said.

“In addition, though, flash flooding by itself caused much devastation.

“Since 2007 there have been improvements to alleviate flash flooding, two examples being the improvement to drainage in the Bog Lane area and the wall alongside Kyre Brook in Market Street.

“As regards the River Teme, the construction of the Tesco development has afforded some further protection.

“But as regards hard, permanent defences, the provision always come down to cost.

“Following some recent meetings with the Environment Agency, they are revisiting this issue and looking at what the options are and what funding can be obtained.

“The National Flood Forum have been approached and they are going to encourage anyone affected by flooding to form a Flood Action Group.”

He added that some measures are available to provide limited protection to individual properties.

Harriett Baldwin is concerned that while other places in her constituency have got flood defences, Tenbury remains in the cold.

“Tenbury has been hit by a number of serious floods in the last century and while individual properties are more resilient, the town could be hit again,” she said.

“Because of that, I have held regular meetings with the Environment Agency and the local authorities to try and develop a strategy to deliver long-term protection for the town, while encouraging as much individual property protection as is possible.

“Now that Tesco has been built, I hope that the town council and the Environment Agency can make progress on building some bunding for the town and alongside that, we must also invest in the important work to keep local streams and brooks, including the Kyre brook, free from obstruction.

“I have always supported a town council-led stage-by-stage approach to deliver individual projects to help reduce the impact when the next flood happens. I will continue to give that approach my full backing."

There will be a public meeting in September to look at the future options.