More than £200,000 has been spent by a Government body on a controversial scheme to flood a Sussex beauty spot by taking the bends out of a river.

There is bitter opposition to the scheme to flood the Cuckmere Valley between Seaford and Eastbourne by letting nature take its course.

Critics of the Environment Agency's plan include Nigel Newton, chief executive of Bloomsbury, which publishes the Harry Potter novels.

They are pressing for a public inquiry as they say it will completely change the landscape and stop the meandering of the River Cuckmere, which is used as a perfect example of a meandering river in geography textbooks.

Lewes MP Norman Baker has been told in a Commons written reply by environment minister Elliot Morley that spending on the scheme has already topped £200,000.

money has been spent on ecological surveys, landscape archaeology studies, prediction of habitat losses and gains and recreation surveys. Work has been completed for the western side of the valley and is now under way on the eastern side.

The agency says millions of pounds would have to be spent on replacing the Victorian flood defences to keep the valley as it is and it is better to work with nature than against it.

Mr Baker said: "I am concerned to learn of the amount the Environment Agency has spent already on this project, ahead of any decision being made on exactly how they would implement their proposals.

"The agency has been allowed to go ahead and spend this money, even though the public inquiry into this proposal has not been agreed to.

"While we are awaiting desperately needed funds to improve flood prevention measures in towns such as Lewes, the agency is running up a bill on a controversial project that has not yet been approved."

Defending the expenditure, Mr Morley said: "The natural processes within the valley are complex and need to be understood so that, when changes occur, the consequences are known and the most appropriate solution identified.

"Since 1998, extensive work has been undertaken with relevant local authorities, key stakeholder groups and the general public. This is due to report in the summer of 2005.

"Existing flood defences are reaching the end of their life and are increasingly ineffective against sea level rise.

"The Environment Agency spends between £30,000 and £50,000 per annum maintaining the defences in this area and ensuring the river can adequately discharge into the sea.

"This is on recycling material from the river, carried by longshore drift, back to the western beach, and maintaining a small number of groynes and breastwork which aim to prevent total blockage of the river."