MP slams Government's record of investment in flood defences

Brooks Newmark reacted angrily to the Deputy Prime Minister's complacency about flood control when he answered on behalf of the Prime Minister at last week's question time. Brooks Newmark reacted angrily to the Deputy Prime Minister's complacency about flood control when he answered on behalf of the Prime Minister at last week's question time.

Answering a question on investment in flood control the Deputy Prime Minister said that, "we have put in record amounts, with an increase of something like 35 per cent. in real terms from the level in 1996-97 to £600 million in 2005-06"

But during a recent meeting with the Environment Agency, Brooks had confirmed that, although there are plans for new flood defences in the Braintree area, there is little chance of them receiving any Government funding.

Brooks said, "I want to know where all of this supposed extra investment is going. We are all increasingly aware of the challenges posed by climate change and the impact that rising sea levels will have on our communities in the years to come.

"Low-lying areas like Essex should be at the very top of the list for investment. But instead we have the Deputy Prime Minister and his now defunct department to blame for demanding that the region should absorb more and more of the country's housing needs. We not only lack the infrastructure for so much extra housing but much of it is being built in areas vulnerable to flooding.

Brooks has signed Early Day Motion 94, which calls for the strengthening of legislation controlling new developments on flood plains and other high flood risk areas. The motion also draws attention to research by the Highways Agency showing that around five million people in two million properties are affected by flood risk and that insurance claims for flood damage have doubled to over £6 billion over the period 1998 to 2003.

"We all remember the disastrous floods in 2001 and have no wish to see them repeated. New schemes like the A120 Proposed Southern Route will also continue to have an impact on flood plains and the situation for residents is only going to get worse unless there is systematic investment in flood defence."

Brooks has written to the Minister responsible for Climate Change and the Environment to follow up on his recent meeting with the Environment Agency. "I not only want to know what is going on now, but what will be invested in the long term," he said.