WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier said it is important to learn from the flooding across the district caused by Storm Dennis, after complaints were made that the temporary barriers in Bewdley were put up too late.

Mr Garnier wrote in his Shuttle column: "Few will have missed the appalling devastation of storm Dennis across the two counties.

"Clearly, we can do what we can to prepare against nature, but we cannot prepare for every eventuality.

"The Environment Agency try to model what is expected, but the storm took a change in direction late on Saturday, resulting in heavy rainfall locally and flooding due to run-off, rather than bloated rivers. In upstream Bridgenorth, the Severn hardly rose at all.

"This was the first occasion that the property-based flood defences were used in Bewdley.

"The Wribbenhall side of Bewdley Bridge – Beales Corner – has been problematic.

"With a bank of dubious quality, and the number of properties being affected limited to around 27, the solution has always been to put up temporary flood defences.

"But they are both structurally less secure and take a long time to put up. In the past, we have seen Bewdley cut in half for several days, only to find that the expected flooding never materialises.

"And when it does flood, the defences are potentially less safe, as they are subject to same laws of physics that apply to much stronger, permanent flood defences.

"The solution has been to help individual houses protect themselves.

"I visited Beales Corner as the defences were going up and residents seemed to handling the defences well.

"But I am keen to hear more about them after the floods have settled down.

"It is important, on this first deployment of the property specific defences, to make sure we learn from the experience.

"Elsewhere, Stourport saw extensive flooding on Gardener’s Meadow and through the river banks on both sides of the Severn.

"I am not aware of any private properties that have been affected, but there were one or two businesses and clubs by the river that were looking in trouble.

"It would be great if we could have absolute certainty that none of us would ever get flooded.

"But the reality is the climate is changing and demand on resources is getting heavier.

"We can only do our best to mitigate nature.

"Whilst there will be lessons learnt about the latest flooding, I am still amazed at the dedication and hard work of all at the Environment Agency, who come out in appalling and, frequently, dangerous conditions to keep us all as safe as they can."

The Environment Agency has been approached for comment on complaints regarding the deployment of temporary barriers at Beales Corner.