Work starts on city flood-relief scheme

GROUND has been broken on a scheme to make a key part of Hereford less prone to flooding - which should also give a boost to nature in the city.

- 

Diggers operated by Herefordshire Council's contractors Speller Metcalfe could this week be seen excavating ground at the northernmost of Merton Meadow’s car parks, where the first of a series of linked ponds and wetlands is being created.

These will provide new floodwater-absorbing habitat covering the size of three football pitches across three sites either side of the City Link Road, funded a £2-million government grant.