Hope at last for victims of River Waring floods

Tracey Collins has been left counting the cost of flooding from the River Waring at Seaview Antiques off Stanhope Road.

The last incident was in June 2019 when her home and businesses flooded twice in two days.

Other properties in the area also flooded.

There had been several attempts to secure some form of protection before last June - without success.

The fact more than £8m was spent on defences for the River Bain added to the frustration for residents close to the Waring.

However, various bodies - including the Environment Agency (EA) - had always indicated there was no funding for a project on the Waring.

Now, though, Ms Collins has been told money could be available.

The Agency says it has submitted a bid for funds for what it terms a ‘localised flood scheme’ in the Stanhope Road area,

In a letter, the EA says the bid has made it through the first round of scrutiny and a decision on whether the Stanhope Road scheme has been success could be made by Christmas.

The letter, from John Ray, Senior Advisor, Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the EA, indicates the funding would primarily be for ‘the small embankment along the Waring we have outlined to you previously’.

Mr Ray adds: “I must stress there is a chance we may not be able to secure all the necessary budget.

“If this is the case, we will come and discuss with you - and others - what additional contributions we may have to seek, though this is some months away yet.”

Ms Collins told the News she was ‘hopeful’ something the bid would be approved.

She added: “I don’t want to say too much at this stager but it would be very welcome.”

The letter was supplied to the News by Horncastle town councillor Richard Barker who Ms Collins described as a ‘tower of strength’ during the process.

She added: “Richard has been fantastic. We couldn’t have got this far without him.

“Horncastle needs people like him to keep pushing for the good of this town.”

Coun Barker said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ the bid would succeed but admitted there were ‘no guarantees.’

He added that he could understand why funding was targeted at bigger schemes, but said Ms Collins and other residents deserved some help.

Coun Barker added: “Tracy, and others, have been promised help only to be let down.

“Now, it looks like we are making progress

“The fact a bid has gone in is positive. Now, it’s fingers crossed it is approved.”