Press Release
RICHARD BURT
Liberal Democrat Candidate for West Worcestershire
Contact: 07970 713 032 Embargo: Immediate 19th June 2007
LIBDEM CANDIDATE RENEWS CALLS FOR INCREASE IN BUDGETS FOR FLOOD DEFENCES
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.”
Ends.
For further information or comment, please contact Richard Burt on 07970 713032
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