Lib Dems Flood Plans Would be Good for Shepway

The Liberal Democrats have published plans to protect Britain from the worst effects of flooding, as the Met Office warns that severe flooding is due to worsen in the years ahead.

Local Lib Dem leader Lynne Beaumont has welcomed the plans, pointing out that a recent Channel 4 "Dispatches" programme names Shepway as having the 11th highest flood risk in the country.

On the publication, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said:

"The Government isn't taking the devastating potential of climate change seriously enough. We need to act now if we're to protect Britain from the flooding that could sweep Britain in years to come.

"Six months after last year's flooding, the Government has still done nothing to tackle the problem. Many areas of Britain are simply left waiting for the next downpour, while ministers sit twiddling their thumbs.

"We must invest more in our flood defences. The Government must stop building so many new homes in flood risk areas, and help families in high risk homes to get insurance.

"We need a comprehensive approach to flooding, brought together in a Flooding Act in Parliament to ensure changes are made quickly, and to reassure the thousands of families who are at risk of losing everything."

Lynne Beaumont said:

"A commitment to a proper plan on flood defences is vital and welcome. Here is Shepway, we need a firm commitment to our sea defences, an understanding of what new building such as Nickoll's Quarry, is likely to have on the flood risk in the surrounding area, and a real solution to the too regular flooding in Foord and other areas of Folkestone."

The Liberal Democrats 10 point plan is:

1. Protect Britain - Increase the flood defence budget by £400m over a Parliament to ensure adequate maintenance of existing defences and construction of new ones, in the immediate future and twenty or thirty years ahead - not just in built-up urban areas but also in rural areas where people's homes flood repeatedly, year after year.

2. Prepare Britain - Make sure that people are aware of flood risk, what to do and how to stay safe in the event of a flood. Take action to improve current flood warning systems, so as many people as possible are warned in advance and can act accordingly. In flood-risk areas, improve public awareness of the importance of buildings and contents insurance, and work with the insurance industry to ensure that people in flood-risk areas are not denied good quality, affordable home insurance.

3. Secure the supply of water and electricity - To avoid people having water and electricity supplies cut off as they were during the summer 2007 floods, we would make sure critical infrastructure providers take action to reduce flood risk. We would also make sure that other critical infrastructure such as hospitals, care homes and schools are 'flood-proofed' to minimise disruption to communities.

4. Look after hard-hit families and small businesses - When flooding does strike, we would provide additional special support for the worst affected areas, so that repairs can be undertaken quickly to key public buildings and social housing, including generous and speedy grants and interest-free loans to allow people in hardship to replace furniture and rebuild their lives in the worst-hit and poorest areas.

5. Promote joined up thinking under one overall body - Allow the Environment Agency to take strategic responsibility for flood defence management and planning. They will work with local authorities and water companies to deliver an accountable strategic, long-term approach to flood defence. This is particularly needed to deal with flood risk from surface water drains and sewers, which were the source of flooding for two-thirds of homes in summer 2007. In addition, they will develop and provide an early warning system for all types of flooding.

6. Tackle building on flood plains - Inappropriate building on flood plains must stop and there needs to be remedial action in areas where we have done this in the past. We would strengthen existing legislation concerning development in flood plains and ensure that residential, retail, commercial or industrial premises are not built on flood plains or areas of high flooding risk, unless substantial flood management schemes are in place.

7. Implement sustainable solutions - Ensure that all new developments incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) to reduce urban run-off water which leads to flash flooding. We would make sure that local authorities take the lead on providing SUDS and that there is an appropriate legal framework in place to ensure that they are maintained.

8. Bring in a Flooding Act - Flooding legislation should be updated and streamlined under a single unifying Act addressing all sources of flooding, clarifying responsibilities and focusing on a risk-based approach to managing flooding.

9. Support farmers and rural communities - We would look again at the current policy on weed clearance and dredging so that the many farmers who suffered significant losses of livestock and crops during the summer floods do not have to endure this again.

10. Get serious on flooding and commit long term - Establish National Task Forces to create integrated flood management plans, and introduce a rolling 50-year planning horizon for climate change adaptation.