Adrian Sanders

Liberal Democrats | Torbay

It’s Sink or Swim for Torbay as Government cuts funding for flood defences

Adrian Sanders MP for Torbay has today said that the Government should be challenged to protect spending on flood defences and environmental policing after leaked emails from senior officials show sharp planned cuts for the rest of the financial year.

The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs has told the Environment Agency to cut another £15 million from flood defence management in this year's budget, bringing the total cuts to 12.5 per cent. The cuts will take effect in the second half of the financial year.

Adrian Commented,

“I refuse to accept any cut in this area of Government spending. In the past 7 years Torbay has suffered 8 incidences of major flooding which has caused 500 incidences of flooding to property. These areas are likely to be placed increasingly at risk over future years as sea levels continue to rise.”

On the 10th of January 2006 Adrian Signed Early Day Motion 1342 that noted a national assessment of needs for flood defences commissioned by the Government stated the current level of funding will fall short of what is needed by £700million over the next 10 years.

Adrian added,

“Its ridiculous, a national assessment commissioned by the Government itself said there needed to be an increase in spending in this area and the Government has decided to do the exact opposite. Spending cuts in this area are unacceptable and I will continue to pressure the Government to get the funding that is needed.”