Flood defences under threat (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Flood defences under threat

July 24, 2006 11:24 AM

A financial crisis at the Department for the Environment and Regional Affairs is likely to mean that vital flood defences in York will not be funded, despite earlier assurances from the government.

Each Regional Flood Defence Committee will now have to reduce its budget mid year, which is likely to require significant cuts. It is not yet clear how many millions of pounds of Flood Defence Funding will be lost nationally.

The reduced funding available is due to the government's mismanagement of the Rural Payments Agency, which has resulted in a huge overspend at DEFRA.

This is the second major reduction of flood funding in the last year. Yorkshire's capital budget for 2006/07 has already been slashed by £6 million to just £17 million.

Cllr Richard Moore (Rawcliffe, Skelton and Clifton Without ward) ran a local campaign in York to expose the £700 million shortfall in Flood Defence Funding. He said "This is typical of this Government. In 2002 DEFRA announced significant funding until 2005-061, then we see the funding removed. It is time the government stuck to its promises on flooding. Flooding will affect millions of British people, and to reduce available money when the Government's own study shows that the funding is already inadequate simply beggars belief."

He added, "Six months ago I called upon the local MP, Hugh Bayley, to sign up to an Early Day Motion calling for increased funding. He still hasn't done so. It's about time Mr Bayley said why he won't support the call for more investment in flood defences, which would help to protect his own constituents".

Cllr Andrew Waller (City of York Representative on the Regional Flood Defence Committee) said "This shortsighted cut is a false economy, because the costs of clearing up after an future flood will be much higher. It seems the government does not care about the impact of flooding on people's homes, businesses and lives.

"Schemes in Ripon and Hebden Bridge were already cut this year, due to the government taking £6 million from the Flood Defence Committee's budget. We will not know until the middle of August how many more millions of pounds of funding will be taken, but any further reduction in flood defence spending is a big risk to this City."