A CO-ORDINATED agency approach to future flooding of the River Wey at Cut Pound has given local residents a glimmer of hope for the future.

But there will be "no quick fix" for the problems experienced last autumn and winter when exceptional rainfall led to a rapid rise in water level and to debris and weeds blocking the culvert running beneath Amery Street and Alton Community Centre, which lead to the flooding of riparian properties.

In fact, it was thanks to the hard work of local people in clearing the culvert grilles that a major disaster was averted.

Last Wednesday a long awaited meeting with representatives of East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council and the Environment Agency, hosted by the Amery Hill Residents' Association, shed light on some of the anti-flood measures.

Responsible for flooding on the highways, according to Philip Yexley of the county surveyor's department, HCC is to replace three culvert grilles along the Amery Street, Bank car park and High Street stretch of the river, by next January.

It is hoped that the new grilles will help solve any problems caused by debris blocking the culverts. If not, the next stage would be to consider improving water flow by "scooping out" the river bed at the mouth of the Amery Street culvert - a solution "fraught with difficulties" according to Environment Agency representative, David van Beeston, who was concerned that the exercise could undermine the foundations of the road and Alton Community Centre.

Another way of widening the culvert would be to re-route the utility company pipes. This could prove expensive. Quotes for from BT and Southern Electric are £10k and £12k respectively and it is thought Transco would weigh in at a hefty £15k. There is no way of forcing the utility companies to agreed to the work.

Experiments are being undertaken on the gauging weir at Bank car park, at one time thought to be responsible for a back-up of water along that stretch of the river. It was thought that adjustments could, at best, reduce water levels by up to three inches.

At Cut Pound the Environment Agency has plans to introduce "coir rolls" along the Tanhouse Lane bank. Pre-planted to encourage development of natural flora and fauna, the rolls would reduce the deep water stretch, speeding up velocity and reducing weed growth.

Riparian owner,Charles Kay said that they would only work if kept clear of debris.

EHDC works manager Roger Burton said that "historically" his team had undertaken to keep the grilles clear of weed and debris and this they would continue to do.