PEOPLE in Romsey whose homes were flooded last winter could be spared the same fate again if lessons are learned from an environment Agency investigation.

The agency has commissioned environmental consultancy firm Halcrow to draw up reports on the flooding for each parish in the Romsey area.

The reports will be used by the agency to decide what measures should be taken in the future to prevent or reduce the severity of flooding.

Draft reports were sent to each parish in November and residents were invited to a public meeting in Romsey Town Hall this week to add any extra information or comments.

The parishes involved are Romsey, West Wellow, Sherfield English, Braishfield, King's Sombourne, West Tytherley, Pitton, Little Sombourne, Broughton, Nether Wallop and Stockbridge. Project manager for Halcrow, Patrick Hawker, said: "The reports try to describe accurately what happened, they set the hydrological context in which the flooding occurred, and make recommendations as to how the identified problems which caused the flood might be addressed.

"Now it's the Environment Agency's intention to get these suggested actions signed up to and agreed by the various agencies concerned. Once the individual parish reports have been finalised we will be producing an overall report covering general issues like maintenance and ditches, which will be submitted to the Environment Agency and they will disseminate it among the authorities that need to know." Recommendations made in the reports include surveying bore holes and groundwater levels to predict when groundwater flooding may occur and then improving flood warning systems.

The reports also suggest developing ways in which householders can help themselves, and tackling the problem of sewer flooding.

Mr Hawker said: "A number of villages have mentioned the effect of additional development, so maybe the planning authorities ought to look more carefully at flooding issues in the future.

"There may also be a case for greater importance to be placed on ditch maintenance, because a lot of problems were caused by poor maintenance of ditches and culverts.

"The Environment Agency will bring these issues to the attention of the people concerned."

The reports are expected to be finalised by late spring.