Relief as flood scheme starts

Four years of living in fear every time it rains is about to end for families in Longlevens.

Work has started this week to build a flood storage area which should stop the Horsbere Brook from flooding.

The £1.5 million pound flood alleviation scheme is being carried out by the Environment Agency and should be up and running by August.

The flood storage area will be able to hold over 150,000 cubic metres of water, in normal conditions it will be empty, filling up when river flows increases and there is a risk of flooding.

This will significantly lower the water levels in the Horsbere Brook, reducing flood risk to over 350 homes.

Kelly Bartlett's home flooded twice in the summer of 2007, she told Heart everyone is delighted work is finally started:

Listen to Kelly
 
The Horsbere Brook flows from the Whitcombe Reservoir through Hucclecote, Brockworth, Elmbridge, Longlevens and Longford in the east of Gloucester.