Today, I wrote to the Minister for Water and Flooding to press the Government for urgent action on flooding. The full text of my letter is below:

Letter to Emma Hardy MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Water and Flooding)

Dear Emma,

I write to raise with you the pressing and urgent issue of flood prevention and resilience.

This week marks National Flood Action Week. Sadly, my own constituency of North Herefordshire is currently subject to flooding, and as a result, roads are closed, schools are shut, and soil is washing off the fields into our rivers and streets.

As climate change accelerates, flooding is increasing in frequency and severity, becoming more common and more destructive, and posing a significant threat to our communities and infrastructure. It is vital that we act now to improve flood resilience.

To address this growing challenge, I urge you to consider the following actions:

1. Provide adequate funding for drainage: Ensure local councils have the necessary resources to regularly clear drains and prevent blockages. Proactive maintenance is essential to avoid the destructive consequences of flooding, as well as the costly, reactive measures that blockages require. I urge the government to reverse the harmful Conservative cuts to local council funding, and to give councils the resources they need to invest in improving drainage, which is such a crucial component of flood resilience.
2. Integrate flood resilience into all aspects of planning: Make flood resilience a priority in all aspects of urban and rural planning. This should include incorporating flood risk assessments into development decisions and ensuring that all new infrastructure is built to withstand future flood risks. I urge the government to include specific measures for flood resilience in the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
3. Increase investment in natural flood management: Farmers are crucial partners in flood resilience, because the way that land is managed has immediate and direct impacts on flood risk. The government should invest significantly in expanding natural flood management initiatives, working in close collaboration with farmers. Their partnership is vital in creating sustainable, long-term solutions that improve land management, reduce flood risks, and mitigate the consequences of flooding on our environment. I urge the government to commit increased funding for nature-friendly farming in the upcoming budget, and to include natural flood management within this.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Ellie Chowns MP