County Council needs to tackle drainage problems

3.12.00pm GMT Thu 24th Jan 2008

Many areas in Meon Valley are at risk of flooding

Many areas of Meon Valley are at immediate risk of flooding due to Hampshire County Council's poor maintenance of drainage systems.

Recent weeks have seen scares at the higher end of the scale with two residents rescued from their homes in Rowlands Castle due to 4ft of flood water hitting their homes, though floods on a lesser level happen across the constituency regularly.

Liz Leffman, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Meon Valley, said: "I am concerned about many areas in Meon Valley - Curdridge, Hambledon, West Meon - that are vulnerable to flooding when they could be better protected with more efficient management.

"The Conservative-led Hampshire County Council has a poor track record of maintaining our drainage systems, and this is a major cause of serious flooding in our rural villages."

Liz wants to see the County Council make a concerted effort to tackle the problems that could lead to flooding in Meon Valley.

She added: "The Met Office has said the full average monthly rainfall for January fell in the first two weeks and that this is to be the wettest year ever. The County Council need to take note and get to work on improving our drainage systems before it's too late."