A FLOOD mitigation project is soon to start in Chalford to help protect an historic manor house owned by Damien Hirst.

The £55,000 scheme on the Thames and Severn Canal aims to safeguard the Grade II* listed Chalford Place, which was nearly swamped last year, as well as the Roundhouse and other nearby properties.

Under the project, the canal will be dredged and a new sluice gate will be installed to improve the flow of water.

Stroud District Council leader Chas Fellows, who is a councillor for Chalford, said: "It was only the quick action of the people who live and work in the area which prevented further damage to the properties there.

"I can’t say the scheme will stop flooding but it will certainly reduce the risk of further flooding.

"People living within the community have been involved and there’s been support right across the board from the residents to the business people."

Plans focus on about 100 metres of largely blocked canal near the A419.

This section is normally just a trickle but on January 16, 2008, following about two months of sustained rain, it burst its banks.

The ground floor of the Roundhouse was flooded and holes had to be made in the retaining walls to allow water to escape from the area into the River Frome.

Workmen restoring Chalford Place had to down tools to help residents lay sand bags. Meanwhile, the access to the Chalford Industrial Estate was flooded.

At a site meeting later that month, the Cotswold Canals Trust explained the only solution was to dredge the canal and put in a new sluice gate to release water gradually downstream.

Gloucestershire County Council pledged £45,000, Stroud District Council earmarked £5,000 and a prominent local businessman donated a further £5,000.

The canals trust, which is leading the project, provided the sluice gate and volunteers to help a contractor with the work.

Cllr Debbie Young (Con, Chalford) said: "This is a fantastic piece of multi-agency work and it’s going to make a big difference to people near the canal."

Officials also hope to transport the dredged silt – known as alluvium – to put on a local farm as fertiliser.

Work is expected to start in the coming weeks.