A drop-in surgery to explain flood new prevention works in Ottery was held by the Environment Agency yesterday.

Residents were updated about plans to improve the flood scheme in the Chapel Lane area of the town.

The government department showed off the blueprints and answered questions on the proposed work at The Institute on Thursday afternoon.

Bryn Williams, project manager for the Environment Agency, said: “The community surgery is an opportunity for interested residents and local businesses to talk to the project team and learn more about the plans and how it will reduce the risk of flooding.

It’s also a valuable opportunity for us to gather feedback and views to feed into our consultation process.”

The work at Chapel Lane will mainly take place within the land around Paradise Cottage, and involve making the trash screen bigger, and also making it easier for the agency’s field team who clear it.

The Environment Agency says some work will also be carried out in the river channel next to the property, and it expects the work will start in the early summer and take approximately 12 weeks to complete.

Mr Williams also said the event was an opportunity for the agency to discuss the on-going land use project work which has been taking place in and around Ottery St Mary.

He added: “This proposed work is one of a number of steps we have taken following the floods in October 2008 to improve flood protection in the East Devon area.

“When constructed, this scheme will help increase the standard of protection to properties on the East side of Ottery St Mary.”