ENGINEERS will start work on a £3.5m plan to build up Romsey’s flood defences in April – six years earlier than originally planned.

Crucially, work will begin on investigating ways to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods that hit the town in February 2014 – leaving homes and businesses under water.

It comes after the Government boosted the Environment Agency’s budget to allow it to work on building up schemes to alleviate flooding problems across Hampshire.

The news has been welcomed by Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes who has been battling to get more cash to bolster the town’s flood defences to protect more than 1,200 homes.

Ms Nokes said: “This is good news for Romsey, with money being brought forward so that the Environment Agency can start investigating the practical flood defence that are needed for Romsey. This is a massive relief for all those affected in Romsey last year.

"I have been pushing ministers for a long time to recognise the urgency here and I am delighted this funding has been brought forward.”

Wesley Jones from the Environment Agency said releasing the £3.5m earlier than planned was great news.

“We thought we’d have to wait for the funding but it means we can start doing this important work in Romsey in April.

"Our first step is to look at how we can reduce flooding to homes and businesses in the town – especially some of those communities affected by the storms in early 2014.”

He said there are two projects for Romsey, one led by the Environment Agency focusing on managing flooding in the town.

“This might include making a barrier built into the bed of the River Test at Greatbridge in February last year a permanent structure on the River Test north of Romsey.”

Mr Jones added that the second project will concentrate on problems with surface water and its management and will be run by Hampshire County Council.

Recently work has been carried out to improve the flow of the Borne Stream at King’s Somborne, another area badly hit by the flooding.

Romsey and Test Valley borough councillor Ian Richards, who was town mayor when the flooding hit said: “This is good news for Romsey and I await the implementation of any measures that are planned.”