Floods Lead To "Summer Of Suffering" (Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk>

Floods Lead To "Summer Of Suffering"

July 24, 2007 11:47 PM

The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for Uttlesford to be better prepared to deal with flooding.

The Leader of Uttlesford Liberal Democrats, Councillor Peter Wilcock, said that lack of Government preparedness has meant a 'summer of suffering' for the millions of people across the country whose homes have been destroyed, and whose possessions have been ruined by, the recent floods.

Councillor Wilcock commented "We just hope that Uttlesford is spared from the worst effects of the flooding which is now bringing absolute chaos to much of the UK this week. It is clear that this area must be more prepared for severe weather condition in the future."

He said that the Government had failed to prepare for the recent flooding, despite early warnings of severe weather. Specifically he criticised the Government for cutting the flood defence budget by £14 million last summer.

Cllr Wilcock went on:-

"There is no doubt that climate change is going to lead to more extreme weather in this country and it will affect people in this area too. The Government has a duty to prepare for this and to put in place plans to minimise the effects. Yet last week there were no preparations in place despite early severe weather warnings.

"The Government must now give the overall responsibility for flooding to the Environment Agency, put a significant amount of investment into flood defences and learn the lessons from a natural disaster that has caused suffering to millions of families this summer."

Uttlesford Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Cllr Martin Foley from Thaxted has recently asked Uttlesford District Council's Chief Executive to prepare a full and comprehensive engineers' report for the Thaxted area to ensure that the town's drainage can cope with the developments being planned in the town. This follows concerns over drainage issues expressed by residents of the town and Thaxted Parish Council.

Cllr Foley said "It would be really foolish to allow further development in towns like Thaxted if the drains will not cope with the changing weather patterns that we are now seeing. We need to be convinced that all is in order before allowing further building."

Cllr David Morson, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Uttlesford District Council's Community Committee, has requested that the Council's Emergency Planning Officer, Jason Dear, give the Committee an update on the Council's preparedness to deal with flooding at its next Meeting on Thursday 6th September. Members of the public are entitled to attend these Meetings and can submit questions to Mick Purkiss at the Council Offices three days in advance of the Meeting.