TWO flood defence schemes in Accrington and Barnoldswick will start this year with an Environment Agency grant totalling £530,000.

The cash, confirmed as part of a £36million package of projects nationwide, has been welcomed by campaigning senior councillors in Hyndburn and Pendle boroughs.

The agency is to spend £230,000 on repairing and improving the Broad Oak water culvert under the centre of Accrington.

It will protect 55 residential and business premises from the risk of flooding from a potential collapse of the Victorian underground canal which drains into the River Hyndburn.

Borough council leader Miles Parkinson said: “This money is very welcome.

“It will maintain and repair the culvert under the Broad Oak area of the town ensuring it does not collapse and cause flooding to homes and businesses.”

Pendle Borough Council will be responsible for spending the £300,000 grant for the ‘upsizing and diversion’ of the culvert at Skipton Road in Barnoldswick.

It is the latest stage in a series of measures to protect the 100 plus homes on the 1960’s Ghyll Meadows estate in the town.

Craven ward Cllr David Whipp, who leads on flooding issues for Pendle Council, said: “This is fantastic news. We have been fighting for this latest grant for two years.

“It completes the work to protect Ghyll Meadows estate form the risk of future flooding which has been a worry for many residents.”

Following a series of floods in the early years of this century a culvert was diverted down Meadows Way at a cost of £300,000 but the homes came under serious threat again in November and December 2015.

On Boxing Day that only a desperate effort at sandbagging by prevented a more serious flood and in 2016 a new £25,000 flood wall was built followed by the purchase of pumps and other flood relief equipment to be kept in the area.

The latest project will see new work to divert and enlarge a second culvert taking it under Skipton Road and Valley Drive to joining the existing culvert on Meadows Way.