A CONTROVERSIAL £12 million flood defence scheme faces further delays after legal wrangling between residents and the Environment Agency.
Preliminary work for The Chelmsford Flood Alleviation Scheme is done, but a summer start date for the main project at the River Wid in Margaretting now looks unlikely.
Councillor Roy Whitehead, leader of Chelmsford City Council, said: "We understand there are small problems with one of the landowners up there and getting access to the land.
"They can't start with the major work, it's been delayed for a month or so.
"There are regular meetings with the Environment Agency (EA) and hopefully they will negotiate a settlement.
"And that's where it stands , we are frustrated, I think it's right to say."
Ken and Jean Albon, one of the families affected, say they are also frustrated at the lack of progress.
Ken said: "It's been going on for six years – we suddenly got a letter in the post about it and it was a shock – but I understand they first thought about it in 2000.
"We've been here 32 years, when we moved here a lot of it was derelict and we have rebuilt all of it over these years, day and night, to get it how we want it to be, our countryside retreat."
But they face 12 feet-high sheet piling running across their land in a horseshoe shape around their property.
Already, they have had some trees cut down and an access road is planned.
While they accept the flood scheme will happen now, they insist there has been a lack of continuity in the plans and communication from the EA.
Ken continued: "The trouble with the EA is every year someone different is in charge, they say 'we'll look after you' but won't agree any compensation with us.
"They all say 'don't worry, you will be treated fairly'.
"We feel like the sacrificial lamb so they can start development on the Chelmsford floodplain.
"We're in our mid-60s, we don't want to have to move away and start again."
The EA say the scheme will protect more than 1,200 homes and businesses in the centre of Chelmsford from flooding.
Other options have been considered but discounted.
It was decided dredging the river would only make a small increase in capacity, while a project at Whites Bridge would have a major impact on the grade II listed bridge because of the need to reroute a fuel pipeline that supplies Stansted Airport.
A storage scheme at Hylands Park was knocked back because major work would be needed to protect the A414, railway and houses in Galleywood.
It was also considered unacceptable to have such an impact on the historic park.
Downplaying the notion the scheme had been controversial, Cllr Whitehead continued: "It's one or two landowners that are most affected, for the rest of it everyone wants to see it in and out of the way – it could have been done years ago."
A spokeswoman for EA, who have already paid out compensation to another couple, said: "It is still our intention to start construction on a date this year but we don't have an exact date yet due to ongoing legal issues."
