Emma has challenged the Government over their failure to properly fund flood defence projects in Shields, after the Environment Agency published figures showing less than one third of funding promised for local projects has actually been delivered.
Speaking at Environment Questions on Thursday (18th June), Emma asked the Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss MP:
“In the last Parliament the Government promised £3.1 million of investment to reduce flood risk in my constituency, but figures published by the Environment Agency show that only £1 million of funding has been granted. Can the Secretary of State confirm which schemes will not go ahead and why the Government are failing to deliver on their commitment to manage flood risk?”
The Environment Secretary responded that when all schemes were taken into account, £4.3 million was being invested in flood defences in Shields over six years.
But the Environment Agency’s figures show that not all of the money promised is reaching the communities it is meant to serve. Neither of the two projects mentioned in their publication – in Cleadon and in Newmarket Walk – are currently receiving the funding they were promised. This could leave over 100 homes at risk of flooding.
Shields has been hit by flooding several times in recent years, most notably in 2007, 2012 and 2014.
Nationwide the Government is failing to maintain flood defences properly, even as the risk of flooding has risen in recent years. The floods on the Somerset Levels in 2013/14 showed how catastrophic floods can be for people’s homes and livelihoods, yet over a year later around three quarters of flood defences are not being properly maintained, and investment in new projects is £1 billion less than is needed.
Speaking after Environment Questions, Emma said:
“The Secretary of State’s reply won’t reassure anyone. The Government can promise all the projects it likes, but as long as they don’t put their money where their mouth and fund these schemes then people’s homes are going to be at risk.
“Investing in proper flood defences can save money in the long run, but typically this Government is being short-sighted and won’t deliver schemes that can keep people’s homes safe. If they don’t start taking flood defence seriously soon, we’re going to see more disasters like the one last winter. I will hold the Government fully responsible if people in Shields lose out because of their negligence.”