North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns has called on the government to put more effort into flood prevention following the latest deluges in Herefordshire and elsewhere.
The recently elected Green MP has written to water and flooding minister Emma Hardy demanding the government reverse recent funding cuts to councils to ensure they are resourced to regularly clear drains and prevent blockages, “which is such a crucial component of flood resilience”.
The government should also prioritise flood resilience “in all aspects of urban and rural planning”, incorporating this into the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
RELATED NEWS:
- Herefordshire commits to better drainage after flooding
- Herefordshire Green MP Ellie Chowns to donate half her salary
- Final list of candidates to fill Ellie Chowns' Herefordshire seat
And it must invest in natural means of flood management in tandem with farmers, and include this in the upcoming budget, she wrote.
“The threat from flooding is sadly not going away, and I will continue to press the government for action to ensure our communities are resilient and safe in the face of future flooding,” Dr Chowns said.
She told the Commons on Thursday October 17: “Sadly this week my own constituency is subject to flooding, roads and schools are closed and soil is washing soil into roads and rivers,” and called for a debate in Parliament “on the crucial issue of flood prevention and action”.
OTHER NEWS:
- Herefordshire's £2m roads package sidesteps Balfour Beatty contract
- Appeal decision on 120-home scheme for Bromyard, Herefordshire
- Herefordshire farm fights on to permit chicken-poo AD plant
Leader of the House Lucy Powell MP said she was “sorry to hear of what’s happening in her constituency” and had “already taken note of calls for a debate on flood resilience”.
Herefordshire councillors last week unanimously backed a motion put forward by Ross-on-Wye Liberal Democrat Ed O’Driscoll to prioritise mapping and fixing the county’s drainage networks.
Coun O’Driscoll has since said he is “pushing for implementation meeting” on the proposal with council officers.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel