Growing flood risk 'can't be ignored' by ministers

Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley is on the committee which wrote the report

An MP who helped to compile a report recommending tougher flood prevention measures has said it can't be ignored.

Julia Buckley, Labour MP for Shrewsbury, is a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, which has called on ministers to introduce national standards for flood resilience, and back them with "adequate" funding.

Buckley said: "Climate change is making flooding become a very regular event, and we've got to stop reacting as though it's a surprise."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) told the committee that protecting communities from flooding was one of its five core priorities.

The report makes 39 recommendations, including flood resilience being a statutory responsibility for councils, better assessment of local funding needs, and increased support for local resilience groups.

The committee visited a number of flood-hit communities, including Shrewsbury, during its inquiry, and concluded that policies to tackle flooding were often too fragmented and short-term.

It gave examples of planning decisions which failed to consider the cumulative effect of developments in a river catchment area, and spending decisions that were not cost-effective.

'Committed to investment'

The MP told BBC Radio Shropshire: "We're really being quite bold and ambitious in the requests that we're making of ministers, and we're saying we can't really ignore this any more."

"It's about investment, it's about funding, but it's really about moving resources and expectations into preparing before a flood, rather than after it."

Referring to a number of Shropshire flood resilience groups the committee had met, she added: "It's about engaging and supporting all the individuals who help our communities when we're flooded."

In its response to the committee, Defra said it was committed to investment to improve flood resilience, after what it said were years of underinvestment from the previous government.

It added: "£2.65bn will be invested over two years in building, maintaining and repairing flood defences."