A VITAL scheme to protect Moreton from future flooding has been hailed a "significant event" in flood alleviation for the town.

Chairing the latest flood meeting at the Moreton Area Centre on Friday, Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton- Brown said the £400,000 scheme would leave the town better protected then ever should a flooding disaster like 2007 occur again.

Mr Clifton-Brown, who has been chairing six-monthly meetings across the district for the past five years, was joined by representatives from Thames Water, the Environment Agency, Cotswold District Council (CDC) and Gloucestershire Highways along with about 30 residents to hear about latest developments.

"I think it will be a very significant event in alleviating flooding in this town," he said. "I think when this scheme is in place, if we ever have the level of flooding we had in 2007we will be much better protected."

Laurence King, Flood Defence Engineer at CDC, said phase one of the four phase project is now underway with a bund being constructed behind Swan Close.

"There's been a lot of work done that's not physically obvious," he said. "We've diverted a lot of the water from the estate down into the existing flood relief channel.

"We're working together to create a system that will take as much water off the A44 as possible and stop it coursing into the town."

A new 2km pipeline will be constructed to divert water away from the town into the Stow Brook along with additional flood relief culverts to cope with the extra pressure.

Funding for the scheme has now almost been secured and it is hoped the shortfall will be made up from Gloucestershire County Council's flood alleviation fund.

County Councillor for Moreton, Nigel Moor said: "We're in a very strong position to bid for a significant part of that money. This scheme is right there at the top in terms of progression."

Meanwhile, concerned residents living in Croft Holm and Primrose Court, reported they were still experiencing problems with untreated sewage running into the river Evenlode, caused by a faulty pumping station, and an area of algae which has formed.

But Huw Thomas, from the Environment Agency, said they were aware of the problems and work was still being carried out.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Clifton-Brown said: “I am pleased that my public flood meetings were once again so well attended.

"It proves how concerned residents are about the actions being taken, or not being taken, by the various agencies involved."

In the future, Mr Clifton-Brown will chair an annual public flood meeting in Cirencester while the newly-formed Multi-Agency Flood Alleviation Group holding quarterly meetings.