Rogerson flood challenge to Environment Agency
North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson, this week took Environment Agency Chief Executive, Baroness Young, to task over the Agency’s budget for flood prevention.
In a special session of the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, of which Mr Rogerson is a member, the local MP drew the Agency Chief’s attention to a delayed scheme at Flexbury, in his constituency.
Speaking in the Committee, Mr Rogerson said “you may not be consulting on it publicly but there must be a batch of schemes that are at the moment beyond funding”, and pressed Baroness Young for details of how schemes were being delayed because of funding shortfalls.
Commenting afterwards, Mr Rogerson said:
“I share the delight of local residents that flood defences are now to be installed at Flexbury.
“But that much needed scheme was delayed for far too long because of a lack of cash. I know there must be other schemes of that nature all round the country, waiting for funding.
“Baroness Young was cagey so I will be pressing Ministers further because the Agency simply must know which schemes they would like to implement but cannot do so.”
Notes to Editors:
Mr Rogerson has tabled a Parliamentary Question on this issue today:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the flood defence schemes which the Environment Agency has considered implementing in each of the last three years, what estimates were made of the costs of these schemes, and which the Agency has (a) decided to implement and (b) already installed.
