MORE than £200,000 of funding has been provided to tackle flooding in a notoriously wet road.

Haven Road in the Hythe has caused huge losses for businesses as the Distillery Lane pond regularly bursts its banks.

In a bid to help out businesses, Colchester Council and other agencies have racked up funding to raise the flood barrier at the distillery pond and add new manholes.

Lee Scordis (Lab) who is county councillor for the area, said: "We have been pursuing this issue for years, even before we were elected.

"Since being elected to County Hall in May I have brought this up with highways cabinet member Ian Grundy, to see if this issue can finally be resolved.

"I am delighted Essex Highways have responded and I would also like to thank Colchester Council who were instrumental in getting all partner agencies on board to address the flooding.

"It has been a long time coming and we look forward to seeing the results."

Plans include raising the walled flood barrier at Distillery Pond by 30cm, in addition to clearing and modernising the mesh weed screens, relining the water tunnel leading to Haven Road which is currently blocked with weeds, replacing a 150m section of the same tunnel to remove 90-degree bends that result in large volumes of rain water going onto the road surfaces, and adding nine new manholes along the entire length of the tunnel.

Mr Scordis added: "The engineers are confident the works underway will significantly reduce the likelihood of flooding as well as the volumes of water that might escape the pipework system in the event of torrential rain."

The total cost of the works is £272,000, with funding split three ways - £190,000 from Essex County Council, £26,000 from the Environment Agency and £52,000 from Colchester Council.

The works will be completed during the current financial year, by EAP Structural Services.

The work has been welcomed by councillors Adam Fox and Mike Lilley (Lab), ward councillors for Old Heath and the Hythe.

Simon Walsh, Essex County Councillor responsible for environment, said: “We are pleased work is getting underway to tackle the issue to make a positive impact on residents and businesses.

"This is an excellent example of joint working between Essex County Council, Colchester Council and the Environment Agency.”