Minister to help flood-hit families
Dec 18 2008 by Paul James, The Journal
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Hilary Benn yesterday agreed to take up the cause of flood-hit families in Northumberland who are still out of their homes.
Mr Benn made the pledge after a plea from Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith, who said the Environment Agency needed to look into river management in the county.
Mr Benn yesterday announced the Government is to set up a £7.7m national flood forecasting centre in response to the devastating flooding last summer.
In a Commons statement, he also announced councils will be responsible for assessing and managing local flood risk.
Outlining the Government’ response to Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the floods, Mr Benn announced a £15m fund for local authorities, including money for six high-risk councils to develop surface water management plans.
He said the floods in the West Country at the weekend which claimed two lives were a reminder of the “ever-present risks that we face”.
Mr Benn told MPs: “We are creating a new national flood forecasting centre bringing together staff from the Environment Agency and Met Office.
“This will start operating in April and will improve our ability to respond quickly by providing better information and more detailed warnings directly to emergency responders.
“Having previously decided that the Environment Agency will take on a strategic overview for all forms of flooding, I am today announcing that local authorities will be responsible for ensuring that arrangements are in place to assess and manage local flood risk from all sources including surface water.”
He continued: “I am increasing funding to local authorities by £15m to allow authorities where the risk is greatest to take on this new role straight away. Part of this will be for the development of surface water management plans.”
The first six local authority areas to bid for these funds are Hull, Gloucestershire, Leeds, Warrington, Richmond-upon-Thames and West Berkshire.
Sir Alan said many people in Northumberland were still out of their homes and many more felt there houses were vulnerable to flooding. “They will remain so unless the Environment Agency agrees to changes in river management,” he said.
Mr Benn told him he would take up the point with the Environment Agency.
He also announced a £5m grant scheme to help people protect their homes and promised extra money for the Environment Agency to improve flood warnings and for flood rescue teams.
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