A local Residents’ Association is celebrating success in its bid to stop further destruction of a flood defence which protects houses bordering the River Avon in central Warwick.

The Emscote Gardens Residents Association has expressed increasing concern over several years about the effectiveness of their flood barrier, erected in the 1960s when the houses on Mercia Way and surrounding roads were built.

During the Easter floods of 1998, residents watched anxiously as the River Avon threatened to overwhelm their homes and the flood water reached the top of the defences, but they held firm.

The barrier has been degraded over the years, and in 2002 a campaign was launched to ensure its reinstatement.

Since that time, the Residents’ Association has been fighting further threats to the flood bank, including reducing its height, failure to maintain it and building houses on it.

Mrs Linda Bromley, of the Residents Association, expressed her delight when Mike Nattrass, UKIP MEP for the West Midlands, offered his support in their fight against a proposal to build two houses on the flood barrier.

The planning application came before the District Council’s Planning Committee last month, and was turned down.

“This is a victory for common sense,” said Mrs Bromley after the meeting.

“The building of this flood barrier was a requirement of the estate being built in the 1960s, so why is it no longer necessary in these days of rising sea levels and flood risk?”

Mr Nattrass added: “At this time of increased incidence of flooding associated with climate change, I find the attitude of the Council and indeed the Environment Agency towards my constituent’s concerns to be completely inexplicable".

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