£80m Investment To Improve Humber's Flood Defences

£80m worth of funding is being ploughed into flood defence schemes along the Humber Estuary.

It's part of a plan to protect hundreds of thousands of homes - £2.3bn Government funds are being shared between 1400 schemes across the country.

A further £600m is expected to come from local authorities and partnerships in affected areas too.

Jackie Dixon from Hull was flooded in 2007 and helped set up the Hull Flood Group to support other victims. She says she still hasn't got over what happened:

"You just couldn't imagine what it was like, we'd left a clean and tidy house and then came back to a room full of sewage water, everything was just a complete write off. You spend years and years accumulating all your sentimental items and then all of a sudden everything is lost in just one blow. It takes a long time to get over something like that, in fact I don't think you ever get over it.

"My whole street was affected. On that day in 2007, the police were getting everyone out of the drive and they were just putting people wherever they could for the night. It's absolutely awful and when you see people going through this on TV, your heart really goes out to them because you've been through it and know exactly what they're going through, it's awful.

"I think the fact that we were all part of one group and supporting one another really helped, I think it was one thing that kept my sanity because there was just nothing you could do in the house at all, it was just a waiting game. Over 8,000 homes in Hull were flooded in 2007, as well as schools, police stations and so on. When you think of all the people who are involved with all that, it's massive.

"I'm pleased something is being done to protect the Humber as the cost of putting things right, whether it's personally or through insurance, is crippling. It's one of those things that prevention is better than a cure, surely, it's got to be done and I think the risks of further floods are far higher than they ever were."

Local MPs have given their reaction to today's announcement. Brigg and Goole MP, Andrew Percy, told Viking FM:

"It's really good news, it's £80m of investment but more importantly it's the backing we've had for this Humber Strategy that I and other local MPs have been working on which the government has accepted and is moving forward with. That is the strategy that seeks £1bn of investment over the next 15 years. So the government has accepted that the Humber is a national priority for the first time, so that's really important.

"Having that key recognition that we have key infrastructure here, power stations, petro-chemicals as well as all the homes we have and the business investment is really important because what that says is, that we're going to look at the Humber differently and as a special case. So whilst this £80m is really important, hopefully now we're moving closer to getting the £1bn we need over the next 15 years or so."

Beverley and Holderness MP, Graham Stuart, said:

"I’m pleased to hear the Government is taking flood risk seriously and making a significant investment in protecting homes and businesses in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

"There’s still much work to be done and more funding is needed to deliver greater flood protection for Beverley and Holderness through the River Hull Integrated Catchment Strategy and the Humber Strategy, but the funding announced today is an important step in the right direction."

Haltemprice and Howden MP, David Davis said:

"I am delighted that the Prime Minister, Chancellor and rest of Government have listened to the case we have made and promised to make a strategic review of the scheme for flood defences on the Humber. The initial £80million investment for the scheme demonstrates the government is taking this seriously and recognises the immediacy of the threat. In the long run securing these defences is essential to protect people’s homes and livelihoods.　

"I look forward to seeing further details of how this latest flood money will be allocated and the result of the review in July next year."

But the CLA in the North says the Government’s plan to spend £80 million on shoring up the Humber Estuary’s flood defences is only part of the solution to stemming the risk of future flooding.

The organisation, which represents thousands of landowners, farmers and other rural businesses in the North, says the funding must be part of a broader strategy providing genuine reassurance that the risk of flooding is being tackled comprehensively.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said:

"One year on from the floods that devastated parts of East Yorkshire and the Humber Estuary, communities and businesses across the region are still alarmingly vulnerable. Farmers and landowners can play a vital role in shoring up flood defences but they are currently restricted by expensive environmental surveys and permits as well as having to co-ordinate with a multitude of agencies.

"CLA members are playing a critical role defending land and communities against flooding. However, the Government must make it easier for landowners by cutting red tape, encouraging new, effective approaches to managing drainage and providing funding to deal with a backlog of maintenance work. Without this support we risk losing valuable agricultural land, homes and communities."

You can see the government's full flood spending map by clicking the link below:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zDlYgkD0zbyk.kkxJV47hNuMs