New fight over valley flood plan

About 35 acres of the valley would be flooded

Plans have been put forward again to flood part of a valley on the Devon and Cornwall border.

The National Trust wants to flood part of the Tamar Valley at Cotehele to create a nature reserve.

Council leaders turned down the plan once before in October 2002 and residents are angry the trust is re-applying.

The trust said the area would become an important habitat for rare animals and plants if it is allowed to go ahead.

There was such strong opposition last time Jo Totterdell

Under the proposals, a riverbank would be breached in three places to allow water on to about 35 acres of agricultural land to help form a reed bed.

At first, the area would be turned to mud by the flooding. The reed bed will appear over a period of between 10 and 20 years.

Locals are organising a protest to fight the plans.

Protester Jo Totterdell said: "I don't think they really should be trying to jeopardise the good faith of local people by continuing with this scheme when there was such strong opposition last time."

The National Trust said the area would become an important habitat for rare animals such as the water vole. The trust said it also planned to put in a walkway to allow public access.

Brian Muelaner, from the trust, said: "It won't be spoiled. The offices which look after the valley's status as being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has said, in their view, in the long-term it will be greatly enhanced."

The trust wanted to flood the area two years ago but was turned down by Caradon District Council because of concerns about the effect on boats navigating the River Tamar.

The trust said it had addressed those issues, and that it will be re-applying for planning permission for the scheme in the next few months.