The National Audit office report on Flood Risk Management published today 5th November, confirms what many Somerset people have been saying. If government has cut spending on flood defence and river maintenance every year since 2010, then you are going to increase the risk of flooding on the Somerset levels. The hard hitting 55 page report criticises the government for making flood prevention a low priority and the Environment Agency for not telling communities that the budgets for flood defence had been cut.
Cllr Julian Taylor, Bridgwater Labour Councilor and flood victim said: “this report confirms what we already knew, less money has been spent every year since 2010, the EA was expected to more with less money. As a result the defenses on the Tone and Parrett were overwhelmed and communities were flooded. The government thought that they could away with this; but, the Audit Office report confirms that the Conservatives and Liberals in coalition deliberately took a risk and as a result communities on the Levels suffered”.
Protecting the Goverment from embarrasment
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “If flooding causes 1.5 billion damage every year, then surely Government financial intervention is necessary to reduce this risk. If the Government had increased the funding For Flood protection, instead of reducing it since 2010, this would have avoided the colossal bill for flood damage”.
“Ian Liddell- Grainger MP has consistently avoided the call for a Public Enquiry into the cause of the Flooding last year. He has stated that the Public Enquiry is not necessary and a waste of money. Perhaps the reason why he has advocated this policy is to protect the present Government from the embarrassment, that has now been exposed by the National Audit Office”, says Mick.
Cllr Mick Lerry said: “Ian Liddell-Grainger MP has even crticised the Secretary of State, Liz Truss MP, for not visiting the people in Moorland, during a recent visit to the Levels, just before the announcement by the National Audit Office. Ian Liddle-Grainger MP must accept that he has been a member of a Government that has reduced spending on Flood Protection by 10% since 2010, so he is equally to blame”.
Cllr. Mick Lerry – Leader of the Labour Group on Sedgemoor District Council
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset Constituency
Mobile: 07775 905080
Email: michael.lerry@btinternet.com