RESIDENTS and businesses in Winchester will be able to find out more about a major flood scheme.

An event at the Guildhall Courtyard on March 19 and 20, Noon-3pm, which will provide information on the second phase of the North Winchester Flooding Alleviation Scheme.

Officers from Hampshire County Council, the Environment Agency, Winchester City Council and flood modelling experts will be on hand to talk to attendees.

Portfolio holder for built environment at the city council, Cllr Caroline Brook, said: “This project will help to protect many more homes and businesses in central Winchester and it is really important that people get a chance to have more detailed look at the plans so they can understand how the scheme will work and will reduce the risk of their property being affected by flooding in future.”

This comes after a January report showed how the City Mill and City Bridge could be destroyed if flood defence works were not carried out.

Civic chiefs rushed through a decision to approve an additional £500,000 spending.

The money was approved by the city council’s cabinet and is to be spent on the second phase, which will introduce sluice gates on the uncontrolled river courses that flow through the city, to control water levels further upstream.

Cllr Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport at the county council, said: “Since the severe winter of 2013-14, we’ve been working with our partners on measures to help mitigate the impact of flooding in Winchester in the future. We are now inviting local businesses and residents to come and look at the plans, and talk to the project team so they can find out more.”

Work is due to begin this autumn and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

  • Winchester City Council had originally said the event would take place between 12pm and 3pm. A spokesman has since confirmed that it will run between 3pm and 6pm.