Richard Burt Meets Environment Secretary In Push For Flood Defences

9.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Aug 2007

Secretary of State for the Environment Hilary Benn, with Richard Burt in Upton after surveying some of the businesses hit by last week’s floods.

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Richard Burt today met with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, and joined with local residents to push for greater protection against future flooding for towns across Worcestershire.

Mr. Benn heard that Upton had flooded six times within the last eight months and is now the most frequently flooded town in the country.

Richard Burt said: "Towns like Upton-upon-Severn require full flood defences, not temporary alternatives."

He asked the Secretary of State to consider changing DEFRA guidelines to reflect the frequency of flooding as well as the number of people affected in deciding where to invest in new defences.

The Lib Dem candidate reinforced the view that flood defences should be kept where they are needed rather than stored miles away.

Mr Burt also said that the Fire Service should be given a lead role in flood defence as well as coping with the aftermath of flooding.

"Fire Services are already in the frontline when it comes to rescue and mop-up operations. But every flood affected town has a full-time or retained fire station, so why not train firefighters to play a lead role in flood prevention too?

"Chief Fire Officers have talked about a fuller role for the Fire Service in flood protection. Its time we listened," added Mr Burt.

"I welcome the Secretary of State's visit to Worcestershire, and have strongly urged him to look at the issue of locally stored flood defences and a full flood prevention scheme for Upton in the government's upcoming review."

Commenting after the meeting, Hilary Benn said: "The Government will follow up discussions on the location and scale of flood defences with the Environment Agency and will look at all possible alternatives."