FLOODING on one of Colchester’s busiest roads could become a thing of the past, thanks to a Government grant.

Part of £72,000 from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will go towards tackling excess water on Cowdray Avenue.

The road, which runs near to a stretch of the River Colne, is a flooding hotspot after heavy rain.

Colin Teare, engineering manager at Colchester Council, said water coming off housing developments at High Woods, flowed into High Woods Country Park and down to the Colne, often settling at Cowdray Avenue.

He added: “I’ve managed to get £72,000 for several jobs around Colchester, which will alleviate flooding problems at Cowdray Avenue, and other places that flood.

“On Cowdray Avenue, it floods if the tide is in, and water does not go away, as there’s no outlet for it.”

The money will go towards addressing problems with ditches, pipeworks and other related works in areas including Cowdray Avenue, School Road, in Langham, and parts of Copford.

Mr Teare added: “These funds will help us tremendously. I was over the moon when I heard about it.

“We can now look to get the work done and achieve a lot of improvements for those who pay us rates.

“We’re pursuing more bids, because the money is given out every year.”

Colchester Council won the funding after submitting bids to the Government department.

The authority was one of only six councils in the east of England to get cash.