In yesterday’s budget the Chancellor George Osborne allocated an extra £700 million pounds with areas such as Cumbria, York and Leeds who have already got together and submitted flood defence proposals have had the green light from the Chancellor for their schemes whilst our area have not yet submitted their proposal.
David Morris MP ‘I am extremely disappointed that the lack of proactive planning by our local district councils on what flood defences are needed have ended up meaning that our area have been left behind. Businesses and residents across the district have been calling for further defences on the River Lune since the December floods and in other areas where Councils have been more proactive the projects have now received funding. I would urge the local Councils to get their projects into Government as soon as possible so we can ensure that the area gets the funding it needs for flood prevention’
Flood defence funding for Lancaster waiting for Council’s Application
Following questions from businesses in the area and the Chamber of Commerce regarding flood prevention after December’s floods as a result of Storm Desmond, David Morris MP submitted a parliamentary question to floods Minister Rory Stewart MP.
David Morris MP asked:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans and funding her Department has for projects to prevent flooding of the River Lune in the Lancaster and Morecambe area.
In response Rory Stewart MP said:
In Morecambe, Lancaster City Council will soon complete a £10 million Government funded scheme, which will reduce the coastal flood risk to more than 8,000 properties.
Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and the Environment Agency are currently developing a business case which will investigate the potential of a new scheme to reduce flood risk within the city of Lancaster.
Speaking after receiving the response David Morris MP said:
I am pleased that the flood defence project on the promenade is finally almost finished after securing funding from Government in 2014.
It is a concern however that vital flood defence schemes along the River Lune are not able to be given the go ahead for funding as the business case has not yet been submitted to Government by the Environment Agency and the Local Councils. Whilst I understand that this work can take time it is imperative that these groups come together to ensure the proposals are compiled quickly so that work can start sooner rather than later and protect homes and businesses from further incidences of flooding’