PROTECT VULNERABLE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM FLOODING NOW, SAYS MEP
May 8, 2008 11:55 AM
Local Euro-MP Liz Lynne has reacted with shock to revelations of the vast scale of work needed to protect vital infrastructure such as water works and power stations from future flooding. Over 1000 water and electricity facilities were affected by the summer 2007 floods.
Liz commented after the leaking of a confidential government report into the true threat from flooding, which is said to dwarf that from terrorism. Liz Lynne, MEP for the West Midlands region said:
"The leaked conclusions of this report make shocking reading and show there is much to do if we are to avoid water works like Whitbourne in Herefordshire failing as it did during last summer's floods. There are also many vulnerable electricity power stations and switching stations which need better defences, such as Walham beside the River Severn which supplies power for 500,000 people and was on the brink of flooding.
"Last summer's floods were a disaster but they were also a wake-up call which could have turned out far worse. Studies show the risk of extreme climate events is increasing and we need to be prepared with thorough defences at key infrastructure sites as soon as possible.
"We have already seen other events which must serve as a warning. The Severn Valley Railway was devastated by the localised extreme rainfall in east Shropshire, and the mobile flood defences for Upton-on-Severn were stranded on the M5 in a jam caused by the failure of the carriageway drains to cope with the run-off.
"But this report is important, as it is asking questions that up to now government has failed to ask. For example, what would have happened if the kind of rainfall we saw at Pershore last year fell on central Birmingham or around key waterworks or power stations elsewhere in our region? There was some significant flooding in the city centre as it was. This crisis is not something Ministers can just shunt off to Birmingham City Council or other local authorities, it requires government action and money.
"While estimates put the cost of protecting such sites at £1bn or more, the cost of not doing enough, as we were given a preview of last year, would be much higher. A stitch in time would save nine!"
ENDS
Notes:
The government's internal report on the flooding, led by Sir Michael Pitt, will be published in June 2008.
After the flooding hit areas of central and Northern England in summer 2007 Liz Lynne pushed hard for the UK government to apply to the EU Solidarity Fund, which is intended to reimburse non-insured losses, such as emergency assistance and public infrastructure costs.
Liz then campaigned at the European Parliament for the application to be approved as quickly as possible, speaking on the subject in the chamber and corresponding with Commissioner Hubner. The Commission has since approved £110m of funding to help with the costs of emergency recovery
Liz Lynne also campaigned for funding for the Severn Valley Railway which was severely damaged by the flooding and largely out of action for several months. The railway is vital to the tourism and leisure economy of Worcestershire and Shropshire in her West Midlands region constituency and reopened fully in March 2008.
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