Victory for Emscote residents in flood defence

The Emscote Gardens Residents Association (EGRA) have been campaigning for years against the further destruction of the flood defence in Mercia Way after a large part of it was removed,

The planning inspectorate has dismissed an appeal lodged by developers to build houses on the 1960s flood defence which lies alongside the River Avon, and jubilant residents have hailed the decision as a victory for common sense - but warned they will continue to fight for the rebuilding of the defences.

Cllr Linda Bromley (Con, Warwick South), a member of the EGRA, said: “This is a huge victory for our campaign and we welcome the sound decision.

“The inspectorate has had our community’s safety in mind and we will now continue to fight for the reinstatement of the flood defence.”

In 2006 campaigners were shocked by a district council decision to give the go ahead to knock down a large part of their flood bank despite eight years of research and campaigning by residents and 25 objections.

At the time Cllr Bromley said: “We have lost our protection and our flood defences have gone, we’re absolutely gobsmacked. Now we feel more vulnerable than ever.”

Anthony Wilson of the inspectorate said in his report: “The absence of a safe means of escape from the site in the event of flooding, and the harm to the area of restraint, should carry the greater weight in my decision that the appeal should not succeed.”