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"Don't leave Local Authorities in Deep Water" - MEP Issues Flood Challenge to Government
October 22, 2001 12:00 AM
On the anniversary the horrendous floods in Yorkshire, and against the background of new flooding this weekend in the South East, local Euro MP Diana Wallis has issued a challenge to the Government to formulate a coherent policy on flooding and come up with the cash instead of leaving local council tax payers to foot the bill.
She says: "It is quite clear that at present there is no coherent structure to deal with flood defence. Victims and potential victims are being passed between the Environment Agency and local authorities.
"Of the nation-wide costs of the flooding last year, approximately one third occurred in Yorkshire - the highest percentage for any region or area in the country. Our local authorities, with all the other costs they have to bear, cannot be expected to foot this bill alone.
"Of course an argument about who should be dealing with what is no help when your home is flooded. Firstly you don't want it flooded, and if it is, you want to know that you will get help and compensation.
"Many householders are now unable to get insurance. If this is because flood defence is deficient then the Government should at least give these homeowners the immediate reassurance that if the worst happens they will not be left without recompense. This should be a spur to the government to sort out a long term coherent flood defence plan."
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