ACTION to reduce flooding in Rossendale could soon be in the pipeline with a proposed £63,000 extra expected to be allocated from the council's budget next week.

Councillors meet on Monday to set next year's budget.

More cash for drainage, particularly flood defences, will be one of the issues under consideration as councillors have said they want to spend on extra clearing gullies and employing an engineer to oversee the works.

Responsibility for drainage is spread across agencies such as the Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council and Rossendale Council and it is hoped a new engineer will co-ordinate efforts improve the service.

Deputy council leader Coun David Hancock said: "There are many collapsing drains in Rossendale, usually owned by private landowners, and during this year there has been a big increase in flooding and drainage issues so we want some money to address that.

"We have the power to order repairs where excess water gets on to roads, on footpaths and runs towards people's homes, such as in Hardman Avenue, in Rawtenstall, and the Greave Clough area of Bacup.

"We can ask the landowner to do the work and we can take action if nothing is done and claim back our costs.

"The problem has been that we have not had the budget in the past. A land drainage engineer will be able to respond to problems and have a budget of their own."

Inadequate clearing of gullies, which is vital for clearing water from roads in the borough, has been criticised in the past by residents.

Lancashire County Council pays the borough council to clear gullies once a year but councillors hope to get money to clear them more often.

Coun Hancock said: "We have realised there is a possibility of climate change and we need to address that. If areas do flood it has to be paid for so we want to use more money to prevent it happening."