Mark Whitehead 09 September 2016

Council accuses Government of not taking the risk of flooding 'seriously enough'

The Government has set aside £12.5m for new temporary flood defences in England after finding more than 500 key infrastructure sites were still vulnerable.

The review was ordered after 16,000 houses across northern England were flooded during the wettest December in a century last year.

However the leader of Leeds council Judith Blake accused the Government of failing to take the risk of flooding in her area seriously and demanded action to provide protection on the River Aire.

Environment secretary Andrea Leadsom said the review set out 'clear actions so we are better prepared to respond quickly in the event of future flooding and can strengthen the nation's flood defences'.

She said the Government was also investing £2.5bn by 2021 to protect families, homes and businesses from flooding.

Utility companies will increase flood protection of their key local infrastructure such as phone networks and water treatment works and a new 'stress test' of the risk of flooding will be set up.

Met Office forecasts of extreme rainfall scenarios will be linked for the first time with Environment Agency modelling to provide a new assessment of flood risk.

Cllr Blake said: 'Leeds is barely mentioned in this report which really does smack of the government not taking the risk here seriously.

'Storm Eva caused absolute devastation for residents and businesses in Leeds, with many still recovering.

'The people of Leeds need the new Secretary of State to come out and confirm she will stick to the promises made to the city by her predecessor earlier this year, namely that funding will be made available to provide protection from the River Aire upstream from Leeds Station along the Kirkstall Road corridor.'

Calderdale MBC leader Tim Swift told The MJ the role of local government had been ‘really downplayed’ in the report and claimed councils were best placed to ‘make connections on the ground’.

Banning urban pesticide use image

Banning urban pesticide use

RSPB and PAN are working on a letter from local councillors calling on the Government to introduce a national ban on urban pesticide use. Find out more below.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Recovery Worker Substance Misuse

Essex County Council
£30931 - £35362 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefit Pension
Recovery Worker Substance MisusePermanent, Full Time£30,931 to £35,362 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Transport Officer

Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation
£63,112 per annum
leading the capital’s largest new regeneration project. Brent Civic Centre (32 Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ).
Recuriter: Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation

Senior Occupational Therapist

Essex County Council
£43477 - £52302 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid, CPD, Gov Pension
The role will be responsible for supporting adults to develop their abilities to enable them to live as independently as possible. This may include England, Essex, Harlow
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Director of Commissioning and Performance

Northumberland County Council
£100,157 - £109,081
We are looking for an individual to help us achieve excellence in adult social care in Northumberland. Northumberland County Council, Morpeth, United Kingdom
Recuriter: Northumberland County Council

Payroll Manager

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£46,014 to £55,758 per annum
About the role You will have a set of on-going responsibilities which will vary depending on the needs of the team. The responsibilities include (but not limited to) to
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.