Tim Farron calls for Government to commit to flood protection funding

Ahead of next month’s Spending Review, local MP Tim Farron has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Reed, calling on the Government to end the uncertainty around funding for flood protection.

At the Autumn Budget last year, the Government stated they were “facing significant funding pressures on flood defences” and said it was “necessary to review these plans from 2025-26”. 

As a result the Government has currently made no lasting funding commitment for flood protection beyond April next year.

Since then, the Climate Change Committee has found that over half of England’s top quality agricultural land is at risk of flooding and that last year’s harvest was the second worst on record after extreme levels of rainfall.

In his letter to the DEFRA Secretary, Tim wrote: “My constituents in Cumbria remember with horror the devastation of flooding after Storm Desmond in 2015 – the estimated £500 million of damage to Cumbria alone, and the incalculable human cost.

“As Flooded People UK has found, cuts to government flood defence budgets would cost more money than they would save. Every pound invested in flood defences saves eight pounds in preventing destruction and loss. Long term funding for flood defences would be public money well spent, and ensure greater security and insurability for communities at risk from flooding.

“Given the increasing threat flooding poses to food security and to communities all over the country, I hope you will commit to continuing and growing flood protection funding in the next Spending Review.”