MORE than £9,000 is to be spent to solve the serious flooding problems which have plagued people living in Westlands Lane, Beanacre, near Melksham.

A hydrological study has revealed a number of problems which cause serious flooding in the area.

West Wiltshire District Council wants to work with Wiltshire County Council and other landowners to clear open drains and the open ditch system.

The district council commissioned experts from the Symonds Group to study the area and assess what must be done.

Council officer Graham Creasey said: "In simple terms the study has revealed that the flooding at Westlands Lane, Beanacre is due to the lack of capacity in the surface water drains and the large rural area contributing to it."

The work will cost the district council more than £9,000, and the cost could be even higher than that.

The study revealed it was not possible to make the drains larger but the solution actually lies with reducing the flow of water into the drains under the road and railway.

A planning application for a three-bedroom house in Westlands Lane would not have an impact on the flooding problems.

Both the application and the study were due to be discussed by the members of the district council's northern area committee last night.

The committee had been asked to approve the plan and to move forward with bringing an end to the flooding problems.

Mr Creasey said: "We need to undertake discussions with Railtrack to reduce the size of the culverts on their land and evaluate the impact that this may have on their main line.

"We also need to negotiate with the owners of adjacent agricultural land who may be affected by the works."