Work to stop a flooding problem in Beccles will soon get under way as councillors approved £80,000 in funding.

The issue affects part of Puddingmoor and Waveney Meadows and earlier this year the flooding was so bad that access to Beccles Rowing Club as well as around a dozen privately-owned moorings was cut off for more than a month.

Some of the flooding has occurred due to the settlement of the river flood bank, and the Environment Agency is currently carrying out work to rectify the problem. However further action is still needed.

Caroline Topping, district and town councillor for Beccles, said: “We have had ongoing flooding issues in that area for some years. However in the last winter of 2017 we had major flooding issues due to rain over a long period of time and the water this year did not recede.

“The main reason for this is that over the years the drainage has not been attended to properly, it needs a lot of digging out, and the flap valve of the sluice gate has been surveyed and is no longer working as it should.”

The issue was put before Waveney District Council’s cabinet last week, which approved a three-phase solution costing £80,000. The first phase will see negotiations take place with other affected parties, permits obtained and approval from the various authorities involved including Anglia Water and the Broads Authority, estimated to cost £11,250 to complete.

The next phase, at a cost of £13,986, will see the existing dyke system cleared. The final phase is the re-alignment of the dyke system to exit via Barsham Marshes at an estimated cost of £40,158. The total cost of the work is £65,394 plus VAT, with a small contingency included in the overall proposed cost.

As well as approving funding to carry out the work, councillors also agreed for financial contributions to be collected from other parties.

Work is due to start once Beccles Lido has closed for the season in September.

Graham Catchpole, cabinet member for operational partnerships, said: “What this has highlighted is that lots of things have been neglected over the years and in a way it is a bit of a wake up call. Once we fix it we must not forget about it and we need to keep on top of it.”