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How the Environment Agency plans to manage the threat of flooding in Romsey was outlined to the Flood Defence Forum organised by Romsey Society on Saturday.

Ian Tripp, who works in the Hampshire office of the agency, said that £25,000 was spent annually on the Romsey area sluices.

The Fishlake embankment, by the World of Water, was to be strengthened, the Fishlake and Oxlease penstock would be repaired in the next two years, and improvements were planned for the Tadburn Lake. Maintenance and inspection were very important.

Fishlake Meadows gave a reasonable measure of protection to the town and Timsbury's weed boom helped to avoid blockages of the sluices and culverts.

He identified the Tadburn as statistically the greatest threat of flooding, the last trouble occurring in 1999 in the Plaza area. Under threat, too, were Botley Road, Eight Acres and Jenner Way.

The 2000 flooding of Rivermead Gardens and Close was caused by a very large build-up of ground water in the north of the county exacerbated by heavy rainfall.

Romsey Society chairman, Phoebe Merrick, said the forum was organised by the Society's public services committee, headed by Shirley Rodgers.

She outlined the various different braids which began at May's Island to the north of the town and flowed through Romsey, partly above ground and partly below.

Steve Lees, who heads Test Valley's planning policy design and conservation team, said they "should not be afraid of water, but a way was needed to manage it."

When Valley Park was developed, three balancing ponds were created to take surface water run-off, which could be gradually released into the Monks Brook.

In Andover, a building including the cinema had been built on stilts in an area prone to flooding, leaving the ground floor open for car parking.

Julie James, co-ordinator of the Hampshire flood plan, said Crosfield Hall and Mountbatten School had been designated as rest centres for those flooded out with nowhere else to go.

Insurance expert, Sandy Dunn, said last year's floods produced 60,000 claims and cost £5.35 billion. Insurance for flooded areas would continue, but he could give no guarantee as to the level of premium.

The industry was talking to the Government and was clearly worried that, since 2,000, 11 per cent of new building had taken place on flood plains.

It was the householder's responsibility to protect a home from flooding and he advised precautionary measures in good time using new products now on the market.

A personal view of the problem of flooding came from Tony Coats, who was chairman of Hambledon parish council during the flooding there in 2000 and the following year.

2:49pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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