New flood protection measures have been approved for a community repeatedly hit by flooding and described as a “real step in the right direction”.

Twenty two properties to the east of Loftus in Arlington Street, East Crescent and St Hilda’s Place will receive improvements with £362,000 worth of funding being provided by the Environment Agency.

The measures include reinforced flood doors, windows and gates, flood air bricks, one-way non return valves for use in private drainage systems, replacement rendering and repointing and the sealing of water ingress points on properties.

There will also be pumps provided to high-risk homes to allow residents to pump water away from their property.

Some of the works required planning permission and listed building consent, which were granted by Redcar and Cleveland Council last month, a partner in the project.

Loftus has experienced several incidents of serious flooding over recent years, the latest occurring last month.

Residents of the aptly named Dam Street described how their vehicles were stranded in flood water which gushed off nearby farmland, overwhelming drains.

And in May an NHS nurse, Paul Jones-King recounted how his home in St Hilda’s Place had flooded for the third time in four years and his “anger” at the recurring situation.

He said sandbags had only been delivered the morning after flooding occurred the previous evening and a flood alert system failed to provide an early warning.

Some parts of Loftus are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to Loftus Beck, which often overflows in heavy rain.

That can exacerbate surface water flooding along Arlington Street and St Hilda’s Place, which then tries to rejoin the beck down Dam Street.

A supply of sandbags has been left in the area for residents to collect following recent flooding.

Some drainage improvement works have also been carried out by Northumbrian Water, along with improvements by the Environment Agency to the complained-about early warning system for Loftus Beck.

The Environment Agency, the council and Northumbrian Water previously commissioned a hydraulic modelling study with a view to managing flooding risk in the town in the longer term. 

Recently, in a report covering his portfolio, Councillor Carl Quartermain, the cabinet member for highways and transport, suggested a better response and communication was needed during any future flooding incidents.

Cllr Quartermain’s report said: “There is partnership working between all the organisations involved.

“However when incidents occur more could be done in terms of responsiveness and an explanation of what is happening and plans to prevent flooding from occurring again.”

He also conceded that his department needed more resources and was lacking some specialist equipment such as gully suckers used to clear gulleys of vegetation and other debris to allow water to better run away.

Commenting on the new improvements, Cllr Quartermain said: “Flash flooding in parts of Loftus is an ongoing challenge and these flood mitigation measures will help protect vulnerable properties in the town.

“This is a real step in the right direction for those residents in Loftus impacted by flooding. 

“Everything has been approved and the contractor is currently in the process of manufacturing the bespoke doors and gates and we are hopeful that they will be installed prior to Christmas.”

He described how it was a “collaborative effort” on behalf of the organisations involved, along with local ward councillors and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Luke Myer, who have also been involved in discussions, adding: “Together, we are working hard to ensure that our community is better protected and more resilient against future flood events.”

Mr Myer said: “This specialist work is proceeding smoothly, with all residents affected, fully informed and reassured about the timeline.

“I will continue to ensure issues raised on the ground are progressed by officials through regular meetings and a committed approach.”