'Lazy' attitude to flooding is not acceptable

1.27.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jun 2008

Liz Leffman has slammed the Government's 'lazy' attitude to flooding following comments from the Flood Recovery Minister that he is proud of the progress made since the series of floods last year.

More effort needed to tackle flooding threat

Earlier this year, two Meon Valley residents were rescued from their homes in Rowlands Castle due to 4ft of flood water hitting their homes, while villages such as Denmead suffer from low-level flooding frequently.

Liz, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Meon Valley, said: "It seems ironic that the Government had been positively spinning the flooding crisis just days before the publication of Sir Michael Pitt's latest critical report of the situation.

"The inescapable and plain fact is that the Government has been lazy in the past with regards to flood defence and continues to fail those who are vulnerable to flooding."

Liz added: "Britain's critical infrastructure is highly vulnerable to flooding, large numbers of new houses are being built on flood plains and fire crews are not fully equipped to cope when a crisis hits.

"This country desperately needs a joined-up effort to prevent further floods, but this will only be possible if a body such as the Environment Agency is allowed to provide an overview on surface flooding and is given the responsibility for managing it."