Government will carry out engineering work at Mill Creek to bring an end to years of flooding problems — but has asked land owners to pay for related road improvements .

The road will be raised, the drainage capacity of the creek's sluice gate will be doubled and, ultimately, a pumping station will be put in place, following talks between Works and Engineering and local businesses affected by the issue.

The Ministry said in a statement: "We recognise that the flooding of Mill Creek Road has become a significant hardship on the land owners in that area.

"Temporary repairs have been made to the sluice gate to reduce the flooding during high tides, but additional work is required to reduce flooding during heavy rain storms.

"The Ministry of Works and Engineering has been in consultation with the land owners to offer engineering services in the form of detailed construction drawings and cost estimates in order to determine the best solution to this flooding problem.

"The remedial works will include raising the road, doubling the drainage capacity of the sluice gate and making provisions for a future pumping station to reduce the severity of the flooding.

"The Ministry has been pleased to offer the engineering services to the land owners at no cost; however, the cost of the road improvements remains the responsibility of the land owners."

According to the Ministry, it is also teaming up with the Department of Environmental Protection to try to improve the water quality of Pembroke Canal; an 'eel ladder' could also be installed to help larval or juvenile eels migrate upstream.

And the Ministry is considering installing a wooden observation platform so teachers and students from middle or senior schools can view the canal as part of science lessons.