We need concerted action on flooding

Even before this week's floods I had raised the issue of flood protection and drainage in the council chamber at Copeland and the disastrous events of the last few days only serve to re-emphasise the point.

I strongly support the call by David Cameron for an immediate inquiry into the widespread flooding, and also his comments urging improved concerted action from the Government to combat the crisis.

After visiting flood victims in his own Witney constituency, David stressed the need for a better strategic response from Whitehall, plus a new advanced planning and protection system for vulnerable areas. As heavy rainfall continued to threaten central and western areas of England, and wider flooding alerts went out in the Thames and Severn valleys, Mr Cameron declared:

"We need concerted action from the Government, we need to look at how they deal with floods, and also the co-ordination of the emergency response." He stated: "We have pushed the Government for an inquiry, and we are glad that they are now having one. The important thing is that it must be comprehensive and fast."

And Mr Cameron added: "We also need to look at the issue of hardship funds. There will be some people who are not insured and will have lost furniture and possessions. Of course people should have insurance, but many don't and may be left with nothing and a hardship fund is one way of helping these people."

One further point is that it is time for a complete rething on all the promises which have been made about housebuilding, because a third of the proposed new housing the government has been recommending are to be sited in floodplains. I think it is time for a presumption against any application to build houses in a floodplain similar to the one we currently have against building in the Green Belt. And overall housing numbers and projected need should be reconsidered on the basis that most of the housing numbers currently assumed to be built in floodplains will have to go elsewhere.

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