£4m flood defence work at River Trent in Rugeley nearing completion
An embankment is being built to protect a town from the threat of flooding.
The Environment Agency says the scheme alongside the River Trent in Rugeley is now in its final stages.
The creation of the embankment is the latest stage in work that has, in total, doubled in cost to £4 million.
A collapsing footbridge on the Cannock Chase Heritage Trail has also been reinstated, allowing the main flood defence work to progress.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We are now heading towards the later stages of the construction phase.
"Sheet piling has finished and the contractors are building up the end of the embankment that forms the main feature of the flood storage area.
"More clay will be imported over coming few weeks so there will be increased vehicle movements.
"The collapsing footbridge which forms part of Cannock Chase Heritage Trail and is owned by Cannock Chase District Council has recently been reinstated.
"The Environment Agency plans to reseed the Hagley playing fields by the end of October and they will reopen to the public towards the end of 2018.
"The exact date will depend on how well the grass grows back.
"The preferred option is to reopen the heritage trail – the main public footpath up to Cannock Chase – earlier. However, the area is prone to vandalism which means the whole area may need to be closed to the public until the playing fields are ready.
"Once the grass has grown back the playing fields will be handed back to Staffordshire County Council and the two existing sports pitches will be reinstated."
The work was announced last year amid fears that a severe flood could cause £6m worth of damage in the town.
Any flooding would also cause severe transport disruption because of the proximity of the busy A51, with bus and fire stations also at risk because of their location.
The scheme will immediately remove 114 existing homes and 159 commercial properties from flood risk, according to the Environment Agency.
The move has been estimated to create 330 jobs because of the attraction of new businesses to the town.
