Lincolnshire farmer renews flood compensation call

Henry Ward said he is happy to store flood water but can't "keep people's feet dry for free".

A Lincolnshire farmer whose land has been flooded since October has said it is "morally wrong" that he has not been compensated for the situation.

Thousands of acres at Henry Ward's farm at Shortferry are submerged but he has told the BBC a nearby storage reservoir is empty.

Mr Ward said the situation was pushing him out of business and he should be paid to store the flood water on his land.

The Environment Agency (EA) said it has no general compensation scheme for farmers and it is working to repair the damage.

Mr Ward said: "How are we meant to carry on without any sort of money or compensation?

"We're protecting thousands of properties by holding that water and we need a proper agreement in place with the EA and Government to recognise that."

The fields at Shortferry Farm were left underwater after flooding earlier this year.

The EA said the areas of affected land are a floodplain and would encounter more problems if the current defences and embankment were not there.

But up to 10ft (3m) water has covered Mr Ward's crops of wheat and oilseed rape which he said would cost "thousands" in lost revenue.

His flock of sheep has also had to be evacuated to a temporary shed.

The farm, east of Lincoln, was badly damaged in 2019 when the Barlings Eau waterway broke its banks.

"Going forward there has to be areas to store water and I'm completely open to it," he said.

"But we don't seem to be getting anywhere. It just goes on and on. I'm completely at the end of my tether."

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