The Kempsey flood alleviation scheme is proceding well. The construction company Messrs Galliford Try have benefitted from the recent, extended, dry weather and have been able to make good progress on building the pre-cast concrete tower for the pumps, the tunnel for the stream under the bund and the base for the penstock valve.

Work is about to start shortly in digging a fish refuge and re-instating the meander, the material from which will form part of the bund. Work has already started in preparing the ground for the construction of the bund. Once the concrete works are finished, then work can start on actually raising the bund. It is envisaged that the whole work will be completed by May 2012. So far, construction has taken place with the minimum of disruption to the residents who live nearby and the access roads of Church Street and Lyfs Lane have been swept regularly to keep them clear of mud from constructor's vehicles. Landscaping plans are currently under consideration and FLAG has contributed ideas into the proposals.

The report from the archaeological survey is awaited, particulalry regarding the discovery of large numbers of human skeletons under what is now the site access road, which runs adjacent to the boundary of the current graveyard.

Our thanks go to Mr Les Smith the site manager in keeping the village informed by regular newsletters posted on site and in organising a series of open days.

On Wednesday 20th January 2011 the Regional Flood Defence Committee approved funding for Kempsey’s flood defences. Work on the bund is aimed to start later this year.

Thank you to everyone who signed petitions, donated money or attended one of our many events. Your support really helped to boost the profile of Kempsey’s case and to achieve this great result. We hope to soon be declaring Kempsey a flood-free zone!

FLAG stands for the Kempsey FLood Action Group. We formed in January 2009 after the village narrowly missed out on funding from the Regional Flood Defence Committee for a flood alleviation scheme.

Our members are all local people committed to preventing the devastation, disruption and expense caused every time the River Severn and Hatfield Brook flood. For some villagers, this is more than a yearly event! In fact the village has suffered some degree of flooding a total of 23 times in the past 30 years. Read more about the impact of flooding on Kempsey. 

Since January, the Kempsey community has united to raise money and to show our support for a flood defence scheme designed by the Environment Agency.  We are hopeful that the Regional Flood Defence Committee will grant us funding for the scheme when they meet again on 16 September.

More than 1,000 people have signed petitions in support of the scheme. More than 150 people have paid £5 each to be Friends of Flag, and we have 300 members in our Facebook group. 

We’ve also obtained substantial press and radio coverage about the scheme thanks to awareness-raising events including pub quizzes, a six-mile pub walk, a garden walkabout and Bund Aid – our spectacular music festival.

Worcestershire County Council and Kempsey Parish Council have generously committed to support the scheme financially and all the landowners who would be affected by the building of the bund have given their written approval and support.

Homes flooded in: 1979, 1981, 1988, 1989, twice in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, twice in 1998, twice in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, four times in 2007, three times in 2008.

• * 150+ properties affected in July ’07. Almost half had sewage- contaminated river and brook water in living areas
• * 23 floods in 30 years. Some homes hit 6 times in 12 months (Jan ’07—Jan ’08)
• * Pumping station flooded. Sewage in streets and homes presents a major public health hazard
• * A38 flooded for several days in 2007 and completely closed to traffic for two days
• * 9,900 vehicles use this major trunk road every day.  When the M5 is closed, the A38 is a diversion route for thousands more vehicles
• * Flooding of A38 affects emergency services’ ability to respond
• * Thousands of commuters and villagers unable to reach homes.
• * Businesses lost trade for up to 13 weeks.