A DELAY in protecting Ross-on-Wye from rising flood waters has caused a torrent of abuse to flow between the county council and Hereford's MP.

The row began last week when Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch claimed engineers would now be building the Ross Flood Alleviation Scheme had Herefordshire Council not underestimated its cost.

Mr Keetch said Ian Pearson, the Defra minister for climate change and environment, had assured him the Government would have proceeded with the flood scheme had the cost not jumped from £5.1 million in 2004 to £6.4 million in 2006.

But Herefordshire councillor Brian Wilcox, cabinet member for highways and transport, said the council wanted to be present at the meeting with Mr Pearson in order to put across their points for a flood defence scheme.

"The council is amazed Mr Keetch went ahead with the meeting without the council," said Coun Wilcox.

"This meant the minister did not receive a unified approach, nor the evidence and persuasive arguments that the council had carefully prepared with the help of local people and local businesses."

Coun Wilcox said the price rise was due to problems with compulsory purchase orders and an increase in construction costs and the price of land the council needed to buy.

Mr Keetch said he was now considering asking Herefordshire Council to find the additional funds to pay for a flood storage area to the east of the A40 and a 350-metre tunnel running from Homs Road to Kings Acre car parks, which make up the flood alleviation scheme.

Coun Wilcox said he would continue to look at all avenues to lobby for funding and would remain in close contact with Defra and the Environment Agency.