A BID for more than £300,000 towards a flood defence scheme in North Tawton has been given the green light from the Government.
The grant application to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which has been approved in principal, was based on a feasibility study commissioned last year by West Devon Borough Council after flooding problems in the town reached a peak.
Chairman of the town council John Kinsey said it was 'super news' and he hoped other agencies would now contribute towards the flood defence scheme, which could cost as much as £750,000.
'The last three months have shown a determination by the people of North Tawton along with the town council and the borough council to move things on. It has shown we can work together — this is great news for the town.'
Consulting engineers Posford Duvivier submitted their report on North Tawton to the council just before Christmas, coming up with several different options to resolve the flooding problems in the town.
Following widespread flooding across the country last autumn, the Government invited local authorities to apply for more than £50-million of funding for flood relief schemes.
Head of environmental services Nick Payne agreed that the early submission of the North Tawton bid was the key to its success.
'We reacted very quickly to this announcement by the Government and immediately put in an application and the report,' he said. 'We were criticised for spending £20,000 on a feasibility study but we have always seen it as an investment for the future and it has already been justified by the fact that MAFF has the money earmarked for us.'
Mr Payne said he hoped to get the final seal of approval in the autumn when a detailed application together with environmental assessments and designs were submitted.
'This is a very important milestone in the administration process and getting the funding together,' he said. 'What we hope is that it will encourage other partners to come forward with financial contributions towards the scheme as well.'
Mr Payne could not say when the money would be forthcoming from MAFF but the Government was looking at streamlining bureaucracy with regard to flood defence funding approvals.
'We have said all along there are no quick fixes and this scheme is going to take time to work up,' he said. 'I do not think the people of North Tawton are under any illusions of that.'
West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, who has been lobbying for funds for North Tawton, said he was very pleased with the grant.
'Subject to what is happening with foot and mouth disease and its containment I shall be doing all I can can to get this money released and the work started as soon as possible,' he said.
Posford Duvivier's study revealed that North Tawton's problems were unique and not solely related to the flooding of the River Taw and the town's streams. Surface water run-off from highways and an old sewerage system made the situation even worse.
The favoured options of the study are to build a flood wall and flood banks for the River Taw and clear silt from the river around the bridge, costing around £275,000. A further £476,000 would be needed to make improvements to the stream and build a flood storage reservoir.
There will be a public meeting next month to discuss the progress on the scheme which is expected to be chaired by John Burnett.