BLUE SKY THINKING NEEDED FOR SEVERN FLOODING SOLUTIONS - ÖPIK

11.19.18am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jun 2008

As the Independent Review into the Government's plans to cope with flooding is announced today, Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson and MP for Montgomeryshire, commented on strategy in his constituency to cope with flooding from the Severn:

"Having met with local residents in the Llandrinio area, it's obvious they're very nervous about the prospect of being used as a flooding area for the sake of those downstream. Hundreds of people live here, and the land has been carefully managed fro farming for generations. Just abandoning this land to inundation is not a sensitive or considered approach as far at the local community is concerned. That's why the consultation must be exactly that.

"It could be that, collectively, we can indeed find a creative solution. One possibility might be a new leisure lake which has the capacity to vastly alter its depth. This could act as a storage facility at times of flooding and also generate income through water based leisure activities all year round. The problem is still to find land and landowners eager to participate, but I put it forward as an example of the fact that submerging people's houses and farms isn't the only way to solve the Severn flooding problem. I'll be continuing my dialogue with local folk and the Environment Agency to ensure this consultation is worthy of the name."

Ends/diwedd

Notes to editor:

Lembit has tabled several Parliamentary Questions on the topic which are listed below:

Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

What assessment he has made of the Environment Agency's proposals to allow more flooding in the Llandrinio as a flood mitigation measure for those living down stream; and if he will made a statement.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure flood defences are maintained on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that adequate flood defences are in place before new housing is built in areas at risk from flooding; and if he will make a statement.

What assessment his Department has made of the use of section 106 agreements to ensure flood defence problems caused by new developments; and if he will make a statement.

What assessment his Department has made of the effect that Planning Policy Statement No. 25 has had on the development of housing in areas of high flood risk; and if he will make a statement.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of flooding where the River Vyrnwy and Severn meet in the Llandrinio area; and if he will make a statement.

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government:

Whether her Department plans to review current planning applications and assess flood risk and flood defences in respect of any house building, as laid out in Planning Policy Statement No. 25; and if she will make a statement.

How many house, by region, are (a) in and (b) due to be built in areas of high flood risk; and if she will make a statement.