The Buckskin flood scheme is due to finish this year

Hampshire County Council committed £6.34m to carry out works in the Buckskin area, to reduce the risk of flooding.

The money was set aside for the works after dozens of families had to evacuate their homes in the winter of 2013/14, when groundwater contaminated with raw sewage flooded into their properties.

The second phase of the work is currently being carried out, with a main carrier pipe being installed in Grampian Way.

Drainage pipes at the Worting Road roundabout are also being installed, along with resurfacing of the roundabout, which has resulted in road diversions along Roman Road.

The scheme is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year, however the council said Covid restrictions and the current lockdown remain a risk to the timetable.

Councillor Rob Humby, deputy leader of Hampshire County Council and executive member for economy, transport, and environment, said: “The scheme in Buckskin designed to reduce the risk of flooding, in an event similar to that of 2013/14, is due to be completed by the end of 2020.

“The installation of the main carrier pipe on Grampian Way and the lateral pipes in the closes are almost complete. The remainder of the works including resurfacing of Grampian Way is scheduled to be completed by mid-December.”

The project has also involved improvements to ditches and culverts along Churchill Way West and Worting Road, and the enhancement of ditches in Saunders Field to improve drainage of floodwater between Buckskin and the start of the River Loddon.

Those living in the area suffered some of the most extensive property flooding in Hampshire in 2013/14 following a prolonged rainfall, which overwhelmed the drainage system, including the public foul sewer network.

The flooding devastated the community at the time, with families put into hotels and temporary accommodation.