Press and Photo Gallery
No Flood Warning For River Hull Residents
Yorkshire, 2 March 2009
Yorkshire Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope has held a meeting with representatives of the Environment Agency (EA) on behalf of residents who feel they were given little warning of plans that could put homes at risk.
Following the publication in 2005 of a government document 'Planning for the Rising Tides' and the entry into force in November 2007 of a European directive on flooding, the EA has been assessing most of the UK's catchment areas. The Agency has now come up with plans to tackle flood risk.
Last year residents learned that under the EA's proposed strategy 'Making Space for Water' maintenance of flood defences could be withdrawn and flooded land would be left to drain naturally rather than be pumped away. The EA says this is the most cost effective way of protecting urban areas such as the city of Hull and other conurbations from being hit in the event of heavy flooding.
Residents have been angered by the lack of consultation over the new plans, and have joined together to demand the plans be scrapped. Mr Kirkhope, who was very active in trying to secure European funding for those affected by flooding in 2007, believes that the proposed measures have frightened residents simply because the EA have done a poor job of telling them what will actually happen.
Mr Kirkhope said:
"I would like to have seen more constructive dialogue, and I have asked the Environment Agency for more information on the flood prevention strategy.
"We have to do a better job when informing rural communities - it simply isn't good enough to hold one short meeting. You can't leave farmers and homeowners in the dark like this.
"Evidence suggests that it was the deterioration of flood defences that caused the appalling flooding in 2007. No wonder residents are sceptical about what is being proposed."
ENDS
