South West flooding: Govt operating flood defences on “shoestring budget”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson, Sarah Dyke MP, has urged the Government to do more to prevent flooding after weeks of downpours and back to back storms caused extreme flooding across the South West, leaving a trail of destruction for residents across the region.

The most recent storm left villages underwater, roads crumbling, train lines blocked, schools and businesses closed and homes without power.

Her calls come following a visit from the flooding Minister to Somerset today which was granted following urgent and repeated pleas for additional support from Sarah Dyke.

Speaking following the visit, Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson and MP for Glastonbury and Somerton said: 

"After my repeated requests in Parliament, the Minister’s visit is a step in the right direction, but it highlights a stark reality: these extreme downpours are our new reality, yet the Government still believes our flood defences can be run on a shoestring budget.

"The decision to withdraw main river maintenance funding is reckless and short-sighted, leaving the burden on local riparian owners and forcing communities to fend for themselves. Somerset and the South West cannot afford the devastating effects of these budget cuts.

“Liberal Democrats are calling for an urgent review of the decision to abandon river maintenance. You cannot protect Somerset on the cheap, and this cannot go on.”

ENDS