FLOOD-hit residents and businesses in Hampshire will have to wait seven years before major defences can go ahead.

It has emerged that Government support for schemes to safeguard hundreds of homes against flooding is being stalled until 2021.

Residents who were forced out of their homes – some having only returned in the past few weeks – have described the announcement as “laughable”.

Last February saw the worst flooding in generations, closing roads and wrecking carpets, furniture and even breaking down walls. With the water levels rising to dangerous levels in Romsey and Winchester, personnel from the Army and Navy had to be drafted in.

Despite bids for Government cash by Hampshire County Council, which spent £1.6m on defence repairs after this year’s deluge, work will not begin on a number of key projects until 2021.

These will include: l A £3.2m scheme to safeguard 1,270 homes in Romsey; l A £640,000 project, protecting 235 homes in Chandler’s Ford; l A £750,000 river barrier scheme along parts of the River Itchen in Winchester, protecting 140 city homes; l A £200,000 project to stop river flooding in Bartley, protecting 30 homes.

The news comes as an Environment Agency report revealed that Hampshire has experienced double its average November rainfall, while groundwater levels are higher than normal across the county.

Chris Egg, who was forced to leave his home in Budds Lane, Romsey, until September, said: “We are disappointed. Over six years before they start anything is crazy. They know there is a problem so why wait so long?”

Mark Viney, 67, has also just returned to his home in Budds Lane. He said: “It’s basically laughable. It’s been too late for this winter, but at least work should start next summer so they get it ready for the winter after that.”

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes said it was “a bitterly disappointing blow to the people of Romsey”.

She added: “I know residents will be angry, and I am too, and will be letting the flooding minister and the Chancellor know that in no uncertain terms.”

Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry said he was “disappointed at the timescales”.

He said: “The county council will continue to press Government on delays to funding being available. Where possible we will seek to use our own resources to accelerate the delivery of these important improvements on the ground.”