Around £700,000 has been awarded by the Environment Agency (EA) for the construction of the first of three detention basins in and around Thatcham, Berkshire.

The Thatcham Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP), drawn up following the devastating floods in 2007, was completed in 2010 and identifies the benefits of constructing a number of detention basins within and around Thatcham.

In 2012, the Council completed preliminary designs for a series of basins located at Cold Ash Hill. The Council is currently working on the final design and has now been awarded approximately £700,000 of Government money from the EA to construct the first of these basins later this year. Thatcham Town Council has contributed £40,000 towards the cost of the scheme and Cold Ash Parish Council £5,000. West Berkshire Council is contributing £45,000.

The Council has received £50,000 from the EA for carrying out the preliminary design of a detention basin at Tull Way in Thatcham. It has also received confirmation from the EA for further funding of £50,000 to undertake the initial design of another basin at Dunstan Park. Both designs will provide information needed to submit bids for Government Grants to construct more basins.

Pamela Bale, West Berkshire's Executive Councillor for Emergency Planning said:

"The Council is working hard to achieve what was set out in the SWMP. A programme of grant applications is well underway with designs and construction due to be completed by 2020. A great deal of work has already been completed and the programme of improvement is ongoing."