ENGINEERS are looking at ways to prevent the flooding which recently hit parts of the area designated for a multi-million pound redevelopment project in Hereford.

The team, from Capita Symonds, leading experts in flood alleviation schemes, has been working with Edgar Street Grid (ESG) Herefordshire Ltd to come up with plans to protect the city centre site.

The Widemarsh brook, which runs along the northern end of Merton Meadow car park and through to Jewsons, regularly overflows - and new homes are planned for this part of the city.

Options currently under consideration include diverting floodwater from the Yazor brook before it reaches Hereford and creating flood water storage ponds upstream.

Charles Pickles, the ESG project engineer, said: "Naturally, people have been expressing their concerns about flooding, especially during the recent major events.

"We can assure them that ESG will not build in these areas until flood prevention work has been carried out.

"After many months of studies, we now have a set of options and we are satisfied we have developed a solution to the problem which is based on working with nature rather than trying to defeat it.

"It is believed the Romans, when they set up Castris camp near Hereford, and built the road to it, created today's flooding problem by diverting the Yazor brook towards Hereford, either to establish defences or to power mills and support other industry along the streams there."

Mr Pickles said ESG were refining the best solution before working through the necessary approvals process.

The company was also looking at ways to use water, including recycling roof runoff, to enhance the natural environment within the ESG area and beyond.