PITT REPORT STRESSES NEED FOR DRAINAGE ACTION, BUT WHERE IS MONEY COMING FROM? - LIZ LYNNE

6.26.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Dec 2007

Local LibDem MEP Liz Lynne has welcomed Sir Michael Pitt's interim report into last summer's floods but has urged him to be clearer on extra funding responsibilities and on exactly who should take the lead in improving flood defences and drainage.

The floods last June and July caused severe damage across Yorkshire and Western England, including Liz Lynne's West Midlands region constituency.

Liz Lynne said:

"I do welcome this interim report and especially the comment that we need to give defence against climate change a similar priority as fighting terrorism. But unfortunately the interim report does leave some big holes: he talks about giving the Environment Agency the lead role, but also increased responsibilities for local councils. There is a potential for muddle here, my starting position would be that local authorities are closest to the communities we need to protect and should be given the core responsibility.

"As with the recent Environment Agency review, the biggest unresolved question is money - who is going to pay for these recommendations to be carried out? Whoever has overall responsibility, local authorities would have to carry out much of the work involved on the ground.

"Either central government needs to guarantee additional ringfenced revenue support grant or Council Tax will have to rise dramatically in areas which need the most work done. Not enough money was spent on flood defences before the summer so it is not a subject to be avoided now.

"I also welcome indications of practical action on drainage. I called for an urgent review of drainage maintenance policies in July. Regular, not ad hoc, drain cleaning and clearing schedules need to be reinstated by many local authorities with highway responsibility; this would prevent many of the flash floods which occurred because of blockages, as we saw in my regional constituency.

"Comprehensive water and drainage mapping is also desperately needed, and I would also ask for a review of agricultural practice near key watercourses. We need to look at the run-off problems of rye grass and the potential for 'wet washlands' to increase the natural absorption of heavy rainfall by the environment.

"I look forward to the full report and hope that the government will start acting on the more urgent issues very quickly. It is a scandal that we were so unprepared in July and we must ensure that we get it right in the future."