MORE than �1 million is to be spent reducing the risk of flooding from drains in the Lovetofts Drive and Daimler Road area.

The news has been welcomed by local MP Dr Dan Poulter who has led calls for action to be taken to ease the misery caused to residents in the area.

Anglian Water has drawn up a scheme that is a combination of traditional engineering and work to use and improve the area’s natural drainage – so called Sustainable Drainage or SUDS.

An exhibition of the proposals will be held at the Whitehouse Residents Association Community Centre in Limerick Close between 3pm and 7pm on October 1.

Stephen Langlois, who is overseeing the scheme for AW, said: “Flooding can be extremely distressing and we are determined to do what we can to reduce the risk for our customers in Daimler Road.

“The beauty of SUDS schemes is that they allow you to work with nature rather than fighting it and features can also enhance an area, providing more interesting green spaces and attracting wildlife.”

Dr Poulter said problems in the area had been going on for years.

He said: “It is fantastic news that they are now finally planning to get on with this work. There have been problems there for about ten years and this is finally getting sorted out.”

There was a lesson for developers from the flooding problems in the Daimler Road as they look at further new housing schemes in the area.

Dr Poulter said: “It is vital that Anglian Water is consulted before new developments are approved so we don’t get a repeat of the kind of problems we have seen there – it has made life a misery for many residents over many years, but at least a solution is in sight.”

The hope is to start work next March with the scheme complete by the end of August.