THE public will today be given an insight into progress on the 20-year Broadland flood alleviation project.At an exhibition in the War Memorial Recreation Centre, Acle, people will be able to talk to staff from Broadland Environmental Services, which is carrying out the �120m scheme, look at display boards showing what work has been done and view demonstrations of computer models used to help with design.

THE public will today be given an insight into progress on the 20-year Broadland flood alleviation project.

At an exhibition in the War Memorial Recreation Centre, Acle, people will be able to talk to staff from Broadland Environmental Services, which is carrying out the �120m scheme, look at display boards showing what work has been done and view demonstrations of computer models used to help with design.

Project manager Paul Mitchelmore said the effectiveness of work carried out so far to strengthen flood banks had been proved by the big tests of the storm surges in November 2006 and November 2007.

To date, 89km of riverbank had been strengthened and a further 30km had been bolstered with new “setback” banks, built landward of the existing ones, he said.

Mr Mitchelmore added: “People will be able to see the thoroughness of the job we do, assessing all the impacts of the work and eliminating the less desirable ones.”

He said impact on wildlife in sensitive areas of the Broads was a major issue, so careful survey work always had to be carried out.

“Following survey work, a major capture and translocation exercise for common lizards is under way on the River Bure between Acle and Yarmouth and along the southern bank of the Rivere Thurne,” he said.

“Next year, we will be undertaking mitigation work for adders in the upper Thurne and lower Waveney.”

Today's exhibition runs from 10.30am to 8pm.