Minister offers meeting to unblock flood schemes

The new minister responsible for flooding has offered a meeting with West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin to discuss the challenges holding up two outstanding flood defence schemes.

The offer of a meeting was made by Water and Flooding Minister Emma Hardy during a debate Dame Harriett held to discuss the challenges of delivering flood defences for Severn Stoke.

Dame Harriett reported to the House of Commons that both schemes have currently stalled, and she asked the Government to confirm that the new administration would repeat commitments to back new schemes with a previously allocated £5.2 billion of funding.

The West Worcestershire MP has successfully delivered more than half a dozen successful schemes including the defences for Upton-upon-Severn and Kempsey but she has pledged to keep the pressure on the Government and the Environment Agency to complete the two final planned projects.

Dame Harriett said: “I am proud of my record pushing for permanent flood schemes across West Worcestershire and I understand the frustration people are sharing with me in Severn Stoke that this project seems to have stalled. I am grateful that the new Minister has offered a meeting, and I will look to get time in her diary right away. I will also meet the Environment Agency team again with the Chief Executive. Both these communities live in hope of being protected from flooding and millions of pounds have been allocated. For Tenbury Wells the small number of objectors cannot be allowed to block the silent majority who want the scheme in place. The planning permission process is where we can make these decisions via our democratically elected councillors. Let's put the planning permission in to start the formal approval process.”