Cullompton relief road plans undgergo flood risk assessment (From Mid Devon Star)

Cullompton relief road plans undgergo flood risk assessment

2:00pm Friday 20th July 2012 in Mid Devon News

CHECKS on flooding risks are to be carried out before final plans are drawn up for an £11million Cullompton relief road.

Highways planners say the road is needed to cut traffic tailbacks in the town.

But the precise route of the bypass and the timetable for work will not be decided until after the results of a flood risk assessment are known.

It is hoped the tests will be carried out later this year at the CCA Fields.

A spokesman for Devon County Council said: “We are still at a very early stage.

“Before any detailed route can be finalised, there is a considerable amount of work to do assessing the flood-risk impacts of different alignments.

“Consultants are expected to begin the flood-risk assessment work within the next few months, which will then allow negotiations with the Environment Agency on po-tential mitigation measures.

“Detailed design work will proceed in parallel with this, which will then inform negotiations with landowners.

“It is too early at this stage to say how long the design work will take as it depends on the outcome of the flood risk work.”

He added that the authority would keep local people informed at various stages.

Meanwhile, it is feared hundreds of new homes could be built in the area before suitable infrastructure is in place.

David Wilson Homes is building 285 houses and it is expected another firm is about to submit an application for a further 350.