WORK has started to prepare the site of a £4 million flood-relief project – which will help protect nearly 300 homes and businesses.

Construction workers have started clearing trees to make way for a flood storage area, based in Broadway, near Evesham.

Once completed, the storage area will hold up to 135,000 cubic metres of water during times of flood, allowing a set amount of water to flow downstream at times of intense and high rainfall.

It is hoped the new technology will reduce the risk of flooding along the Badsey Brook, downstream of Broadway, including Murcot and Childswickham, which were severely flooded in 2007.

Councillor Emma Stokes, portfolio holder for environment and street scene at Wychavon District Council, said: "It’s almost 10 years since the floods of 2007 but none of us will forget the devastating impact they had.

"This scheme will help reduce the risk of future flooding and provide greater protection to communities in Broadway, Childswickham and Murcot."

The project is a multi-agency scheme involving the Environment Agency (EA), Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon, Broadway Parish Council and Childswickham Parish Council.

Daniel Wilkinson, from the EA, said: "Flooding has a devastating impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, so it’s great that by working together with our partners we have managed to find a solution which means we are now one step closer to reducing the risk of flooding for residents."

Partners secured more than £2 million in Government Grant in Aid funding, along with more than £1 million from the EA's English Severn and Wye Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

To enable access to the Government Grant in Aid funding, the county and district councils are contributing £555,000 and the local parishes have raised £312,000.

Kevin Beasley, from Broadway Parish Council, said: "We are very pleased that the flood alleviation scheme is progressing well and that residents will be more reassured that the properties are safer from flooding and the devastation that they have previously experienced, once the work is completed."

As a condition of the planning application detailed archaeological investigations are being carried out. These ground works are almost complete.