FLOOD defences for Severn Stoke moved a step closer after landowners gave their outline consent to a scheme to protect homes and businesses.

West Worcestershire Parliamentary candidate Harriett Baldwin has been leading discussions with the local landowners to secure agreement for the Environment-Agency designed scheme to protect homes and businesses in the village.

It is the second piece of good news delivered about the defences in recent days after Mrs Baldwin revealed that Worcestershire County Council leader Adrian Hardman had written to her confirming that spare soil from major construction projects could be diverted to help build bunds in Severn Stoke.

Hundreds of metres of bund will have to be created to protect the homes and businesses in the flood-hit village but the soil is extremely expensive to source.

During last February's floods 19 homes, the village hall, St Denys Church and the Rose and Crown pub were flooded.

An emergency meeting was called on Friday, March 14 last year during which the Severn Stoke Flood Action Group (FLAG) was established and Mrs Baldwin agreed to meet with landowners to negotiate the possibility of an alleviation scheme.

Bunding could protect both the local properties but also the vital A38 road which connects Worcester to the M5 and M50.

She said: “Discussions have been extremely complex and I am grateful for the work put in by the Environment Agency to work with me to try and find a scheme that could be approved by all the local landowners.

“There is still some final discussion before we agree a formal, final plan but I am confident that we are on the right track and have everyone signed up to the concept of permanent protection for Severn Stoke.

“There is still some way to go before this plan can become a reality and we have to find a great deal of public and private funding.

“However I am glad that the first important task has now been completed and all the local land-owners have agreed to consider our proposal.”

Retired colonel Tim Weeks of Severn Stoke, a leading member of the Flood Action Group ( FLAG), said: "The Environment Agency with support from Harriett Baldwin have now discussed the concept proposals of a flood protection scheme for Severn Stoke with all affected landowners.

"The landowners have given their outline consent for the section of flood defence that will cross their land and are supportive of the scheme progressing.

"The detail will of course need to be agreed and the Environment Agency are currently pulling together a revised composite plan for the village.

"The current proposals are estimated to cost just short of £1 million of which the scheme could be eligible for approximately £200,000 flood defence grant in aid.

"It is also hoped that the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee would be supportive of any scheme and we are optimistic that Severn Stoke will attract a further £400,000 from the local levy.

"This leaves in the region of £400,000 that will have to be found from public contributions, other government agencies, commercial firms or an equivalent reduction in scheme costs.

"Despite this shortfall, we are making progress and we now have a good platform for the village Flood Action Group (FLAG) to commence fundraising in earnest."