A SCHEME aimed at preventing flooding in Romsey is to benefit from a cash injection.

The Environment Agency is set to receive £25,000 towards the Romsey flood alleviation scheme for Greatbridge Road and the Mainstone area of the town.

This comes as civic chiefs try to prevent a repeat of the flooding which hit homes and businesses across Romsey nearly five years ago.

As previously reported, a £120,000 project to refurbish the Fishlake sluices was launched in September this year.

Last month the scheme received another £350,000 from the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, an environmental arm of central government.

Now councillors at Test Valley Borough Council have given an extra £25,000 to the project.

The money will come from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) reserve, which is collected from new developments in the area to go towards improving infrastructure, facilities and services across the borough.

Deputy council leader Nick Adams-King said: “The money collected through CIL helps offset the impact of development in Test Valley by funding essential infrastructure in the area, which will be of significant benefit to to everyone who lives, works and comes to enjoy Test Valley.”

The proposed work will protect nearly 200 homes by improving defences in the area.