Written answers
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Flood Control
David Drew (Stroud, Labour) | Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what opportunities exist for demonstration projects to develop solutions to down stream flooding problems; what criteria are in place for funding support either by his Department or the Environment Agency; and what particular assistance may be available to communities in the Gloucestershire area because of the floods in July 2007.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Leeds Central, Labour) | Hansard source
The Government's budget for
flood management is targeted to achieve the maximum
possible benefit.
DEFRA guidance directs delivery bodies to consider all
options at a catchment scale to reduce downstream
flooding problems. In order to encourage
the adoption of such projects at a local scale, on
there is a recognised flooding problem that could be helped by changes proposed;
the scheme will produce multiple benefits;
project partners are able to secure the land management changes necessary; and
DEFRA's funding will be supplemented by contributions from other sources where appropriate, recognising multiple benefits of the project.
In the meantime the Environment Agency is promoting and supporting catchment projects at a local level. For example, the Environment Agency recently assisted Water 21, an environmental organisation engaged by local residents, which was looking to secure funding for works in the wider Slad Brook catchment in Gloucestershire. The Environment Agency provided river and general catchment data, gave advice on the technical aspects of its work and guidance on proposed actions. The project covers a number of aspects including measures to reduce flooding downstream in Stroud.
The Environment Agency also has a proposal to construct a flood storage reservoir upstream of New Mills Trading Estate on the Slad Brook to reduce flooding in the town. The £500,000 proposal has recently been submitted to the Severn Trent Regional Flood Defence Committee for local funding in 2009-10. The project is competing against a number of other projects in the region and elsewhere. Funding is limited and the projects supported will be selected on their merits against the criteria above. We expect to make a decision in October on which project or projects will taken forward for further assessment before confirming funding for delivery in the new year.
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