LIBDEM CANDIDATE RENEWS CALLS FOR INCREASE IN BUDGETS FOR FLOOD DEFENCES

2.00.45pm GMT Thu 28th Jun 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt has renewed calls for increased budgets from flood defences following the devastating flood damage in parts of the county over the past forty-eight hours.

Mr Burt, who spoke against DEFRA budgets cuts to flood defences at a British Waterways rally earlier this year said:

"Storms and floods have devastated some areas of the county and tragically led to loss of life as a result of flash flooding near Pershore.

"We need more and better maintained flood defences, not the cuts in real terms that regional flood defence committees have been asked to make. The Treasury is following up the cuts in flood defence budgets last year with a demand for further cuts in the spending review. This is another example of the Chancellor failing to grasp the significance of climate change and our need for new defences against natural disasters.

The Lib Dem candidate spoke to people in Tenbury, which has been marooned by the floods, and visited Upton last night for talks with the Chairman of the Town Council, Tim Perry to see how the new flood defences had coped with the rising water levels.

"Temporary defences in Upton have been very effective, but flooding in New Street and on the Hanley Road is still a concern.

"Tenbury has been caught unawares with unprecedented problems and the Environment Agency must look seriously at ways to help protect the town as weather patterns become more extreme and unpredictable.

"Experts are warning it is likely that similar flooding will happen again in the future. The combined effects of global warming and the government imposed requirement to build an extra 10,000 homes outside the city boundaries means that thousands more acres will be concreted over and natural drainage channels will be disrupted and reduced.

"The Commons Select Committee on the Environment has recommended an increase of funding on flood defences alone to £750million per year within five years. It would be madness not to recognise the profound effect our activity is having on the environment by failing to increase flood defence budgets."