Leeds councillors hold emergency flood meeting
Members of Leeds City Council have held an emergency flood meeting to discuss the Boxing Day floods and a recovery plan for the city.
The debate put pressure on the government to reinstate the 2010 Flood Alleviation Scheme to allow for better flood defences in Leeds.
The latest figures from the council reveal that more than 2,200 properties were affected by the flooding. Approximately 1,700 homes and 500 businesses are still dealing with the damage caused by Storm Eva.
Lucinda Yeadon, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We urgently need to consider what help is needed to support those who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and we need to ensure all measures are put into place so that this doesn’t happen again”.
Senior councillors are to meet again on Wednesday 20th January to discuss the latest position regarding the impact of the floods.
The council’s executive board will be asked to approve key recommendations, including:
- A new statutory investigation into the causes and impacts of the floods in Leeds as part of a national review - A recovery plan following Storm Eva to aid properties along Kirkstall Road - A request the government approves a £3 million pound fund to allow design work to start on the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme to improve flood defences
Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr Judith Blake, said: “As the clean-up and recovery continues, our next priority as a city is to examine the lessons we need to learn, and to have the necessary debates and discussions as quickly as possible, including doing everything in our power to persuade government for immediate action on providing Leeds with comprehensive flood defences.
"Their positive words of recent days now need to be followed up with actions – not in a few months or years but in days or weeks”.