Chancellor welcomes work by Severn flood prevention partnership

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has welcomed work to combat flooding along the Severn, but not promised extra money.

The River Severn Partnership, which includes local authorities, water firms and wildlife groups, had produced a business case outlining £500m of schemes.

Mr Hunt said officials would discuss the plans in more detail.

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski said the "door is now open" for further discussion.

Large areas of Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire were once again flooded at the beginning of the year, the latest of several such incidents along the Severn in recent years.

Experts have warned that flooding is expected to become even more prevalent in future years and that existing defences might not be the answer in the most severe cases.

In a letter, Mr Hunt thanked the partnership for the information it provided about the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme and for bringing agencies together.

He said flood risk management was a "key priority" for the government and mentioned a number of projects already under way.

Mr Hunt also said he understood it could take up to two years to complete an outline case for the Severn Valley scheme, which has promised huge economic benefits if land can be made free of flooding.

Mr Kawczynski, who raised the partnership's business case twice with the prime minister in the past two months, said the chancellor's response to the proposals was "positive and promising".

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