A PLEA to help flood-threatened residents in North Tawton was made to West Devon councillors last week.

Nick Morgan, who represents the town, asked that £20,000 should be put aside by the borough towards the most urgent work before next winter.

Cllr Morgan told last Tuesday's council meeting, when he left North Tawton to attend the meeting at Tavistock, it had been raining for 19 hours and the two streams that run through the town had already risen considerably.

'The people of North Tawton are fed up,' he said. 'There is every possibility by the time I get home we could have a flooding situation once again.'

Mr Morgan said it had taken one resident 105 days to get back into his home after flooding occurred twice during heavy rain over the Christmas period.

'If that was any of us, we would be jumping up and down on the table. I think it's entirely wrong — you can see why I am asking for the money — it's needed urgently,' he said.

Mr Morgan's motion meant the bureaucratic wheels could starting turning quickly, short cutting the committee system — he also requested that other agencies be asked to contribute.

'I plead with this council to do something now — otherwise I can see the same catastrophe happening next year,' said Mr Morgan.

Cllr Nicholas Waterhouse said rainfall intensity appeared to be increasing 'enormously'.

He said: 'We ought to have an eye to this — unfortunately I don't think we are taking it very seriously at the moment.

'North Tawton has had flood problems for a very long time, but I don't get the impression there is any enthusiasm for dealing with it.'

He said Mr Morgan was asking the borough to 'get its backside off its seat' — he called for a greater awareness of what would be a 'very serious problem' in the future and he hoped North Tawton's situation would be taken on board by the council.

Cllr Peter Hill said global warming and flooding was something councils had to bear in mind, but he said it was important other authorities were involved in flood protection schemes.

Cllr Sonia Lindsay suggested the borough council in its role as an enabler should push the case for North Tawton above other villages in similar situations.

Cllr Dennis Bater asked if a special meeting of the finance sub committee could be called to 'speed things along'.

But Mayor of West Devon Cllr Margaret Garton said, although she was sure the council supported the need to 'urgently progress' the work in North Tawton, the money could not be agreed that day.

'I know it's very difficult but we do have our procedures,' she said.

The council agreed to await the outcome of consultation with other agencies before progressing Mr Morgan's request.

If necessary an urgent meeting of the finance sub-committee will be called.