NORTH Tawton Parish Council has promised to carry on 'snapping at the heels' of the authorities to get some action sooner rather than later on the flooding situation, writes Alison Stephenson.

Nearly 60 residents attended the annual town meeting last week, many of whom had their properties flooded more than once over the Christmas and New Year period.

Town clerk Alison Baker said it was a positive meeting in terms of representatives from different agencies including South West Water, and the Environment Agency turning up and the fact that it gave local people an opportunity to talk about their concerns.

'There is no one cause of the flooding,' she said. 'It is a multi-agency problem and we need a multi-agency solution.

'No-one has any money but we are hoping that the expertise to do a feasibility study may be offered in kind by the different agencies.'

Mrs Baker said in the case of South West Water, regulated by OFWAT, it could only spend money on approved schemes and they were decided years in advance.

There was a flood prevention scheme earmarked for the banks of the River Taw behind Mill Lane Cottage in 2003 but what was needed now, she said, was a report identifying all the problems and who should be tackling them.

'We want this feasibility study done so the problems can be identified and addressed as soon as possible — we do not care where the money comes from,' she added.

'There is a new emphasis on partnership now and we hope that by having regular meetings and keeping the agencies talking it will work in our favour.

'We will keep snapping around their heels until something happens.'

Mrs Baker said some of the residents had still not moved back into their houses because of the damage that had been caused by the flooding over the Christmas period.

'Water in some of the properties was up to three foot deep,' she said.

The problems were not helped by the 'lack' of flood alert warnings which could have prepared people for what was to come.

'By the time people realised the extent of the floods it was too late and their possessions were ruined,' she said

'It is bad enough when the water starts seeping through to your property but not having the chance to move any valuables or property is much more grim.'