Fears for local communities in Shropshire amid declining flood defences
More than 200,000 homes in the UK are at risk because of a decline in flood defences.
Last updated 18th Jan 2024
Deteriorating flood defences are putting more than 200,000 properties at increased risk of inundation, with MPs criticising the Government for failing to adequately fund the Environment Agency.
The agency has failed to meet its target of maintaining 98% of "high consequence" flood defences - the most common type - and has had to downgrade the number of properties it aims to protect by 2027 from 336,000 to 200,000.
A lack of resources also means that new developments are being built in flood plains without the Environment Agency or Local Planning Authorities ensuring there are flood risk mitigation measures, which the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) described as "unforgivable".
The Government's aim is to create "a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk", but the PAC, in their report on flood resilience, said there is no numerical target in place so the Government cannot know whether it is making any progress on this ambition.
Nearly 2,000 properties were flooded in the latest bout of downpours in early January, with eight named storms having hit the UK since September.
There is also not enough leadership or funding from central Government in helping local authorities build sustainable drainage systems and other measures to ease surface water flooding on paved streets and the Government should plug these gaps, the PAC said.
Defra said it would consider the PAC's recommendations and that it is investing £5.2 billion between 2021 and 2027 which will go towards protecting thousands of properties across England.
We spoke to Jacquie Desai Gale and Terry Gale whose house in Highley near Bridgewater, has flooded three times in the past year.
They've told us - the only help they've had, has been from the local community.
They're worried the community will be destroyed if problems with flood defences aren't resolved.
Jacquie told us, "We don't need the River Severn popping in, on our door-step every time we get a rainfall. So we'd like to know what happens next. We don't want to be forgotten again, we don't want this pushed aside. We want to know that something is being done now."
Liberal Democrat Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson Helen Morgan said: "Areas like mine in Shropshire have had to face year after year of inundation with virtually no support, and what there is, is only set to dwindle, ruining more lives.
"Under this Conservative government, flood protection plans have been shamefully neglected - and ordinary people's homes and businesses are being turned upside down as a result.
"Enough is enough. The Conservatives must get a grip and give communities like mine the support we deserve."