Alicia Kearns MP led an Adjournment Debate in Parliament on flooding in rural communities.
During Alicia’s speech, she highlighted the barriers faced by areas facing recurring flooding locally, including Whissendine, Langham, Thurnby, Braceborough Tallington, Greatford and Tixover.
Alicia called on the Government to:
Re-visit the communities excluded from the flood investment announced on 17th March to protect homes and businesses;
Do more to support local flood resilience groups;
Update the Flood Re scheme which has been designed to make the flood cover part of household insurance policies more affordable;
Ensure Section 19 reports have more of a focus on action and a time limit;
End the double tax on victims of flooding;
Challenge the existing orthodoxy of dredging;
Ensure developers building new homes tackle flooding pre-emptively, or are held to account when this is not done sufficiently;
Make water companies statutory consultees in the planning process;
Review the Flooding Recovery Framework, in particular the threshold which means a Lead Local Flooding Authority can only access support if fifty houses flood.
Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford, said:
“Rural communities face many challenges, but few are as damaging and distressing as flooding.
“The Government must review the Flooding Recovery Framework, reconsider the fifty house threshold, and ensure rural areas aren’t left to cope alone.
“When the heavy rain comes, residents should not have to rely solely on the goodwill of volunteers to protect their homes, businesses and futures. Rural communities deserve a system that works for them too.”
