Flood-hit Severn Stoke pub slams lack of progress on bund

The Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke has been shut for several days after floodwater submerged the village.

It will remain closed for at least the next few days and landlord Andrew Goodall fears there could be more challenges ahead.

“We currently still have several feet of water at the front door,” he said.

“I feel that this is not the last of the flooding and I think we will be back in the same position in late January or February.”

The Rose and Crown is not expected to reopen for a few days still (Image: Andrew Goodall)

READ MORE: Landlord praying for a dry winter

Last year, work got underway on a new flood defence in Severn Stoke with the Environment Agency collecting soil from sites across Worcestershire to build a bund to protect the village.

However, Mr Goodall says there has been little progress since.

“Work on the new bund has still not been started,” he said.

“They really need to pull their fingers out and appoint a contractor very soon or this project probably won't happen again this year.”

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said she completely understands Mr Goodall’s grievances and hopes to see the project completed soon.

She said: “I am as frustrated and saddened as anyone that the Severn Stoke bund has not yet been built. 

“The number of bureaucratic hurdles has been astonishing and each one in turn has required me to spend time bringing the agencies, contractors and landowners together to unblock. 

“Just in the last twelve months, I have chaired three meetings to make progress, including one last week.  I have also met with the Minister to make the case for the vital funding.

“Some of the blockages are entirely administrative and I have urged the Agency to press on with this scheme and get the bund built this year.”

The Environment Agency has stated that they hope to have it completed in time for next winter.

“Work on the Severn Stoke Flood Embankment commenced last year and so far around a third of the material required has been brought to site,” said a spokesperson.

“The remaining material is currently being sourced and our team is busy making the final preparations for construction to start in April this year. 

“We hope to have the embankment finished in time for next winter.”

READ MORE: Work progressing well on vital new flood defences for Worcestershire village

DIY flood defences have stopped too much of the water from getting inside the pub (Image: Andrew Goodall)

Thanks to some DIY defences there has been no damage to the interior of the Rose and Crown, which was recently named a finalist in the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards.

But Mr Goodall is concerned about the economic impact that closing for so long will have.

He said: “Our defences have held up remarkably well this year with very little water inside.

“I have worked extremely hard with the team to get the inside back to normal while we wait for the final water to recede enough to get the doors back open.

“Once again our small business is losing revenue every day while we are closed, and with 17 staff to support it's becoming very frustrating and financially impossible to continue this way.

“We really do need the support of our customers old and new when we open the doors to try and get us back on track, so please pick up that phone and start making your bookings for next week.”

Staff have been in to tidy up what water did manage to find its way in (Image: Andrew Goodall)