John Redwood

|

Redwood finally gets some answers on flooding

Since the flooding in July of this year, the Rt Hon. John Redwood MP has continued to press both the Prime Minister and the relevant Government departments to provide answers as to why so many homes and businesses throughout the country – and not least in his own constituency of Wokingham – were so badly affected.

At least 48,000 homes are now known to have been flooded in June and July of this year. Mr Redwood understands from the Department for Transport that 32 different stretches of motorway suffered closure, none of which had had the benefit of the Highways Agency’s water containment procedures or pumps.

The Prime Minister has assured Mr Redwood that the review of flooding being undertaken by Sir Michael Pitt intends to consider a wide range of submissions from those involved. Mr Redwood is himself preparing a submission for the review, in which he endeavours to represent the experience of his constituents, and to suggest ways in which the impact of future flooding might be reduced. Sir Pitt will report on his initial findings by the end of the year.

Having raised the urgent matter of flood management in the River Lodden area, Mr Redwood has been informed by DEFRA that the Environment Agency’s Capital Programme does include the development of a flood risk management strategy for the area. Unfortunately, they cannot provide a precise date for its commencement (either in 2008 or 2009), and any possible improvements identified will be subject to the availability of funding and their priority on a national scale.

Mr Redwood also pressed DEFRA about the Environment Agency’s record on flood defence maintenance, and in particular on the flood defence assets that are owned by third parties and monitored by the EA. He has now been informed that, in April 2007, only 46% of flood defences such as raised walls and embankments owned by third parties were considered by the Environment Agency to be in a good or better condition. Regarding other defence structures, such as sluices and outfalls, this figure was 59%. The rest were considered to be only fair, or worse.

Speaking today, Mr Redwood said: ‘A thorough review is urgently needed if it means the standard of our flood defence infrastructure is actually improved. All flood defences should be in good condition – not less than half.’