CITY leaders are set to decide on a crucial scheme to protect hundreds of residents and businesses from flooding.

Council documents reveal that 153 homes and 288 companies on the west bank of the River Itchen are at "serious risk".

Southampton City Council has drawn up a plan to alleviate the danger, which will go before cabinet on November 15.

Dubbed the River Itchen Flood Alleviation Scheme (RIFAS), it was drawn up in partnership with the Environment Agency.

It states that investing in Drivers Wharf in Northam is the best practice to deliver a frontline defence.

 

Drivers Wharf in Northam. Photo: Google Maps

Drivers Wharf in Northam. Photo: Google Maps

 

"Southampton City Council owns approximately 45% of the land area, which includes part of the existing quay wall that is in a failing state, and therefore has an opportunity to invest in Drivers Wharf now to deliver a frontline defence, which will reduce flood risk to the whole site and eliminate the requirement for a 2nd scheme within the next 10 years," says the report.

Stretches of local roads and railway lines are also at risk.

Research shows that by 2120, the flood risk increases to 1,167 homes and 1,033 businesses, with potential flood depths of up to 1.8m.

 

The areas of Southampton that are at serious risk of flooding by 2030, according to a map by Climate Central

The areas of Southampton that are at serious risk of flooding by 2030, according to a map by Climate Central

 

The scheme seeks to install infrastructure to reduce the risk of tidal flooding along the west bank of the Itchen – a 3.6km stretch from Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate to the Southampton Water Activities Centre.

The report continues: "There is a history of flooding events within the scheme area. Recent recorded events include 1999, 2005, 2008/9 and 2014.

"Flooding, recorded on 14 February 2014, damaged vehicles and impacted businesses, roads and footways. It is believed that many more incidents of flooding have historically been experienced but not recorded due to the predominately private ownership in the area."

Cabinet members will decide on whether to move forward with the RIFAS at a meeting on November 15.

The Echo has contacted Royston Smith, MP for the constituency, for a comment.