PLANS to divert floodwater away from a Herefordshire brook have been displayed by ESG (Edgar Street Grid) bosses.

Yazor Brook, which flows through the northern part of the city, has burst its banks regularly, with areas such as Newtown Road and the Merton Meadow car park suffering.

It is particularly worrying for ESG officials as the land forms part of the multi-million pound plan to transform the area into a state-of-the-art retail, leisure and housing zone.

Last week, ESG Herefordshire Ltd re-created a flooded home in Franklin House, Commercial Road.

While there they also showed their solution – a culvert diverting floodwater to the River Wye from Credenhill before it reaches Hereford.

“We are trying to give the people of Hereford the opportunity to look at the evolution of our flood alleviation scheme and its wider benefits for the city as well as the ESG area,” said Dr David Nicholson, town planner with ESG.

The scheme would see excess water feed through a culvert close to the SAS camp in Credenhill and the village community centre. Water levels downstream would be unchanged.

ESG describes it as a “natural, unobtrusive and simple” idea which relies on gravity to operate.

The right-hand side of the brook, next to the community centre, will be re-built as a stone wall featuring an entry weir at floodwater height.

When in place, it is expected to save more than 100 city homes from flooding, based on a one-in-100 year flood.

Bosses also claim the idea will have a minimal impact on River Wye levels.