Thatcham flood defence and unauthorised Hungerford building work on tonight's agenda

THE next step in protecting Thatcham from flooding is to be decided tonight (Wednesday).

West Berkshire Council has recommended that its plans for a flood alleviation scheme at Tull Way be approved by councillors who sit on its western area planning committee.

The scheme will see an earth bund positioned to the north of Tull Way with a basin to hold back excess water.

The basin is the second of four planned in order to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods that hit the town following heavy rain in July 2007. 

The chairman of Thatcham Flood Forum, Iain Dunn, said he was overjoyed with the recommendation for approval, adding that the scheme had been a long time coming.

Council planners have said that the bund would have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the countryside.

However, this had to be balanced against the merits of protecting hundreds of homes from flooding.

The council has received two letters of objection to the scheme, with one saying that a bund would not be needed if the drainage ditches were cleaned annually. This is balanced by five letters of support.

Meanwhile, in Hungerford, the council has recommended retrospective plans for a housing development to be approved.

Residents have opposed Waddington Forbes Homes Ltd plans, claiming that work that was specifically forbidden by planning conditions was ploughing ahead regardless – and that the homes’ number of bedrooms had doubled from two each to four. 

The applications will be determined at the council’s Market Street offices. The meeting starts at 6.30pm.