A NOTORIOUS floodplain that has caused misery for homeowners living along the banks of a beck should now be a thing of the past following a £3m investment.

Around 162 homes are set to benefit from the first phase of an Environment Agency project designed to protect against a severe ‘once in 75 year’ storm in Stockton.

The Lustrum Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, in the Hartburn area of the town, was given the go-ahead last year after councillors agreed to demolishing and rebuilding the 19th-century Londonderry Bridge and building new flood walls.

More than 80 letters of objection were formally submitted to Stockton Borough Council over the removal of the bridge that was built in around 1830 on Durham Road.

However, a replacement bridge funded by the Environment Agency is set to bolster the beefed up flood defences, which includes flood walls at Bedford Street and Duddon Walk and a raised embankment at Newtown.

Councillor Mike Smith, the Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “The replacement of Londonderry Bridge was an essential part of the broader scheme to help reduce the flood risk to homes.

“The old bridge was a major contributor to serious flooding because its arches obstructed the beck’s flow.

“Replacing it with a new, single span bridge has reduced the risk of the kind of devastating flooding we’ve seen in recent years.

“We’d like to thank local people for their patience and understanding throughout this project, and it’s good to give them this opportunity to find out how the new flood protection measures all work.”

A lifting screen has also been installed at Primrose Hill to complement a flood wall along Bishopton Road.

Residents are now invited to join a community drop-in session on the scheme.

Environment Agency area director, Oliver Harmer, said: “The next phase involves looking at storing floodwater further upstream at Coatham Woods, as well as creating new habitat.

“This makes Lustrum Beck a great project which will see us combine traditional engineering solutions with natural flood management.

“I’d encourage residents to come along to the event to find out more about how each of the features work together to reduce flood risk.”

The drop-in opens between 11.30am and 3pm on Wednesday, July 26, in Durham Road’s Newtown Community Centre.