THE first part of a vital flood defence scheme for Derby to protect hundreds of homes and businesses will be completed a year later than expected.
Derby City Council says the delay to finishing the replacement barriers on the River Derwent for Alfreton Road Industrial Estate, Darley Abbey, and Chester Green, is being caused by the Government.
The defences in the first phase of the scheme had been due for completion in March 2017 but this will now be a year later.
The current defences offer protection that means affected areas will have a 2% to 4% chance of flooding each year, but the new ones would reduce this to 1%.
Though the last time the area flooded was now sometime ago, the threat of it has badly affected some residents' insurance costs.
Derby North MP Chris Williamson said the situation was "entirely unacceptable" and that he would be chasing up the issue.
Councillor Martin Rawson, responsible for planning and environment, said the council was still awaiting approval of the scheme's business case from the Environment Agency and confirmation from the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) that funding was in place.
He said: "Preparation work is on-going to allow the start of the construction scheme by March 2015, subject to the funding and planning permission approval, with a view to completing the first package of work by March 2018."
The whole scheme has three phases and is due for completion by May 2021, protecting places including Alvaston Park, Raynesway, Ambaston, and Breadsall.
Mr Rawson said: "We are still progressing to complete the whole scheme by the 2021 date but this is a complex project with a number of influencing factors and there is a risk of change."
Mr Williamson said he had made "strenuous representations" to MPs before about the importance of the scheme.
He said: "As each year goes by, the risk continues for the people living in those areas because the current flood defences are inadequate. That's an unacceptable state of affairs.
"I will raise the matter with the Environment Agency and Defra."
Sarah Thornhill, 31, of City Road, Chester Green, said she wanted to see the barriers up as soon as possible.
She said: "It concerned us when we moved in seven years ago because there was quite a big flood that summer.
"We haven't had one since but it affects our insurance.
"I'd like the defences sorted as soon as possible."
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "This is a complex scheme and further clarifications are being addressed before the business case is approved."
No-one from Defra was available to comment.
