A FLOOD action group has voiced its concerns over the lack of action to protect their homes.

Radcliffe and Redvales Flood Action Group (RRFAG) said it felt left in the dark over flood defence plans.

RRFAG said it was shocked to learn of a 400 per cent increase in the cost of the flood defence scheme.

Their response relates to an appeal for a £7 million funding shortfall, made by MPs Ivan Lewis, James Frith and Tony Lloyd, backed by Bury Council.

A letter was sent to Government to lobby for the investment which would be used for flood prevention measures across Radcliffe and Bury.

Colette Jones, of RRFAG, said: "Why has this information not been shared with us earlier? Time and again the Council keeps promising to communicate and keep us updated.

"We are disappointed that the Council and Ivan Lewis are only now lobbying for funding.

"In light of all the floods previous to 2015, lobbying should have happened a long time ago.

"We are not convinced that Government will release such a large amount of money for an area like Radcliffe."

The appeal for funding was made in a letter to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the environment, Thérèse Coffey MP.

An estimated £37 million flood defence scheme has been jointly developed by Bury Council and the Environment Agency (EA) since 2015.

It includes a mix of hard and soft engineering including flood barriers, flood plains and replacing bridges. The scheme covers an area from Bury Grammar School to Radcliffe.

Bury Council has pledged £2 million for the work but said this has been met with 'volatile cost estimates'.

It is understood a £27 million Grant in Aid (GiA) has been contributed via the EA from the Government's £2.5 billion capital funding.

A total of £1 million has also been contributed by the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee's local levy. But this still leaves a funding shortfall of £7 million to 'meet the cost of adequate protection'.

An EA spokeswoman said the original flood defence scheme was based on modelling ran before the Boxing Day floods.

They said: "In response to the 2015 floods we revised the scheme to ensure it provides maximum protection to residents in the area, based on a worst-case scenario flood – this means we are looking at a much bigger scheme both in scale and complexity and hence in its cost, too.

"As we go through the design process for a scheme, costs often fluctuate as different options are considered and amended, or ruled out."

The spokeswoman said the Radcliffe and Redvales flood defence scheme is in the final stages of detailed design but that the final cost will not be known until design completion.

A final design is due to be submitted at the end of March or early April.

Councillor Alan Quinn, who is cabinet member for the environment, said: "The new scheme has now been drawn up.

"It makes sense to go to London to let them know our scheme is in place and ask for this money."

Councillor Rhyse Cathcart, who represents Radcliffe East Ward, and was displaced from his home for 12 months following the 2015 flooding, said: "I understand why people are still frustrated and frightened.

"I really do want these flood defences - the river is 80 metres from my home.

"I feel that RRFAG is communicated with but some residents feel they are not getting enough information.

"The local authority has been liaising with agencies since 2009 but a lot of this is beyond their power.

"If we do not lobby Government, we will not get any money."