LIB DEMS WOULD PUT £1BILLION INTO FLOOD DEFENCES FOR SCHEMES LIKE TENBURY (North Shropshire Liberal Democrats)

North Shropshire Liberal Democrats <roma.hoseason@btinternet.com>

LIB DEMS WOULD PUT £1BILLION INTO FLOOD DEFENCES FOR SCHEMES LIKE TENBURY

November 10, 2008 5:42 PM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Flooding in Tenbury Wells has come under the spotlight as TV crews descended on the town to film a special report for BBC One's The Politics Show, broadcast on Sunday.

Tenbury's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Richard Burt joined Mary Dhonau, Chief Executive of the National Flood Forum and residents arguing for more Treasury money for permanent flood defences for the town.

Viewers heard that Tenbury would be unlikely to get the £5million for permanent flood defences for at least ten years.

"This is devastating news following four major floods in a little over a year," said Mr Burt, who called for a national emergency plan for flood defences.

"If it was any other kind of natural disaster, government would find the money and the work would be done," added Richard.

Mary Dhonau said: "The Treasury doesn't give Defra enough cash to fund the Environment Agency and so they simply cannot carry out the necessary work."

Following the 2007 floods, the Liberal Democrats called for a £1billion investment in flood defences, but government decided to increase money only from £600m annually to £800m by 2011, leaving Tenbury towards the back of the queue.

Challenged about whether the Conservatives in government would deliver the scheme, parliamentary candidate, Harriett Baldwin said that "overall government has committed to an increase in the amount of money that Tenbury will eventually qualify for", but could promise nothing.

Speaking after the programme, Richard said:

"Tenbury's fragile business economy is in danger of collapse under the current recession. Nearly fifty jobs have already disappeared locally. Another flood would be the last straw.

"Without the confidence of knowing we will get flood defences, attracting further investment into the town will prove very difficult indeed.

"Bromyard Road Business Park has space for the creation of over 100 new jobs, but in the past ten years not one new business unit has been built on it. Malvern Hills District Council could do far worse than agree to sell off plots to encourage new business enterprises, rather than turning prospective buyers away.

"Delays to work on the Kyre Brook retaining wall drag on towards Christmas, disrupting traffic, and MHDC persists with its big hike in parking charges. No wonder people in Tenbury feel let down.