A VILLAGER says her home is still not protected after the rest of the community celebrated the opening of new flood defences.

Villagers toasted the opening of £1.7 million flood defences in Kempsey at the end of July after 21 years of campaigning.

But a resident in Lane’s End says people there still live in fear of being flooded because the new 180 metre long earth embankment will not protect them if the River Severn bursts its banks.

Jacky Smith, aged 55, who has lived at a cottage in Lane’s End for the last 10 years was flooded twice in 2007 with repairs to her home costing £85,000.

Her family also had to pay about £30,000 on top for their own home flood defences, including flood doors and a pump.

Mrs Smith was concerned when she saw a flyer from Kempsey FLAG promoting the opening of the bund which read “celebrate the end of flooding in Kempsey”.

Mrs Smith said: “We at Lane’s End are a little bit miffed because we are in the heart of Kempsey by the church and it’s not the end for us. The defences might even make it a bit worse.

“I have livestock and only last week I was having to move them because we were flooded.

“I have contacted Kempsey FLAG but so far they haven’t replied. Are we not part of Kempsey?

“We still flood. In 2007 the floods affected four properties down here.

“I emailed Kempsey FLAG to say perhaps their flyers were badly worded. They should have read ‘the end of flooding in most of Kempsey’. We feel we have been forgotten about.”

During the summer 2007 floods Mrs Smith said her home was filled with 3ft of water and the family lost everything on the ground floor, including photographs and items of sentimental value.

Cathy Garner, of Kempsey FLAG, who had to pay £36,000 for her home’s flood defences, said: “We’re really disappointed that the houses in Lane’s End are not protected.

“It’s something we talked to the Environment Agency about.

“We have empathy for the people in Lane’s End. As we understand it, it was just not possible to do it.”

A spokesman for the EA said: “The primary focus for the flood scheme at Kempsey was to prevent flooding caused by flood water backing up the Hatfield Brook.

“Those properties being flooded directly from the River Severn lay outside the overall scheme.

“Any scheme funded by public money would need to strongly demonstrate value for money, and the costs for providing protection to one or two properties are not economically justifiable.”