WANTAGE MP Ed Vaizey says he's depressed about a lack of urgency from both the Government and Environment Agency over measures to prevent a repeat of this summer's floods.

Mr Vaizey attended a public meeting at Grove, called by the Letcombe Brook Project, with representatives of the Environment Agency, Thames Water, Oxfordshire County Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and local councillors.

Properties along the Letcombe Brook corridor were badly hit in the floods. Sewers in the area discharged sewage into the brook at Locks Lane.

At the meeting, it emerged that no single organisation had overall responsibility for drainage - the Environment Agency, Thames Water, local councils and private individuals shared responsibility.

Mr Vaizey said: "It was important to have this meeting, but I have to say I found it depressing.

"I get no sense of urgency from the Government or the Environment Agency.

"There was clearly support from the meeting to give the Environment Agency more powers.

"A major concern was building in flood plains. People are worried and believe that developments in areas prone to flooding should not be allowed.

"I share those concerns and will be pressing the Government and the Environment Agency for changes in policy."

At the meeting Wantage county councillor and Vale district councillor Jim Moley called for more Government action and said the Environment Agency should have increased enforcement powers over landowners.

9:00am Thursday 11th October 2007