Multi-million pound flood defence scheme planned for Exeter

Devon County Council is set to invest £3 million into a vital flood relief scheme for Exeter.

The council's cabinet will be asked to approve the contribution at its meeting on Wednesday (10 October).

And senior councillors will press the Environment Agencyto try to bring forward the projected start of the scheme from January 2017.

They will hear that efforts to accelerate the £25 million scheme are dependent on raising £12 million locally.

That would be added to the £13 million national grant which the scheme is expected to attract.

It is also dependent on Devon working with Environment Agency and Exeter City Council to produce a ‘spade-ready’ plan which could attract earlier national funding.

The Environment Agency scheme would upgrade the city’s existing flood defences and add new flood banks, walls and other structures.

Cabinet Member Stuart Hughes, chairman of the Devon Flood Risk Management Partnership said: “The existing flood defences inExeter have been severely tested recently by some of the exceptional rainfall we’ve had and the extreme flows in the River Exe.

“This is a critical scheme and it’s important we get on with it as quickly as possible.”

Andrew Leadbetter, the Devon Cabinet Member responsible for Exeter said the scheme would provide increased protection for 3,000 homes in the city and 1,000 businesses.

“We’ve all seen some of the terrible flooding there’s been in other parts of the country in recent weeks,” he added.

“I think it’s really important for the whole city that these flood improvements start as soon as possible.

“The city council has already pledged £3 million towards the scheme and I will be urging the county council to match that sum when the Cabinet meets on Wednesday.”