Attenborough flood defence plans submitted

The new defences are designed to protect thousands of homes

A planning application for an alternative route for flood defences along a stretch of the River Trent in Nottingham has been submitted.

Work began last year on a £51m scheme to protect 16,000 properties.

But residents in Attenborough opposed the scheme claiming the Environment Agency's flood wall would spoil a conservation area.

A new route for the wall around Attenborough village green has now been submitted by the agency.

Quick solution

The proposals sent to Broxtowe Borough Council consist of a stone clad floodwall that will follow a route around the outside of the village green.

But the agency said the flood defence route along The Strand remained an option with planning permission already granted in April 2009.

The alternative periphery route around the green could now provide a quicker solution to getting flood defences in place in Attenborough to protect people and property, the agency said.

Innes Thomson of the Environment Agency said: "We have listened to the many concerned parties in Attenborough and want to look at the other possible option of a route around the village green, taking into account economic, social and environmental aspects together and recognising the importance of completing the flood defences as soon as possible."

The Environment Agency project covering 27km (17 miles) will run from Sawley in Derbyshire to Colwick near Nottingham.