Leeds MP criticizes Environment Agency plans to change flood protection scheme

The government's being accused of leaving Leeds at risk of severe flooding after rejecting the council's scheme and proposing a new one.

Phase Two would have created more than 1,600 jobs and build defences against the most severe storms.

Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves has called for the Environment agency to re-think their proposals, as the new plans wouldn't protect us from events like the Boxing Day 2015 floods.

In a letter to council chiefs on Thursday (attached to this email), the Environment Agency put forward an alternative proposal for Phase Two of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, which falls £47m short of money needed to fund defences that would provide one-in-200-year flood relief. Instead, the proposed scheme offers only a 1-in-75-year level of protection.

She says the Environment Agency’s decision comes despite a promise from the former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Elizabeth Truss, who said that Leeds would receive the “right level of flood protection”(1). Truss also said the government was “fully committed” (2) to ensuring the city was properly protected from flooding and that Yorkshire would have one of the “most resilient flood defense programmes in the country” (3); a pledge now left in tatters.

The council’s preferred option for Phase Two would have provided increased protection to communities upstream of the city centre, notably in Kirkstall; reducing the risk of serious flood damage to just 0.5% a year whilst also encouraging investment and creating more than 1,600 jobs.

Rachel Reeves commented;

“The wholly inadequate, second-rate scheme now being offered falls £47m short of what is needed. It would not protect Leeds against a flood on the same scale as Boxing Day 2015 and provides less than half of the protection offered by the council’s own plan. The Government have broken their promise to the people of Leeds.

"The announcement will do nothing to reassure those affected by the catastrophic 2015 floods that their property and livelihoods are secure.

"It is a kick in the teeth to residents and businesses in Kirkstall who were promised “the right level of flood protection” by the government only two years ago. Ministers, who said they were “fully committed” to ensuring Leeds was properly protected from flooding, have failed to keep their word.

"Refusing to properly invest in flood defenses is a false economy. Our changing climate means that major flood events are becoming increasingly common. Damage to homes and businesses resulting from another large flood could far exceed the costs of this scheme. Local firms may also be forced to reconsider their own investment plans and the ability to attract new investment will be curtailed.

"Leeds deserves better than this second-rate plan. It is unacceptable for Leeds to be left in such a vulnerable position.

"If the government is in any way committed to building a Northern Powerhouse, it must now go back to the drawing board and come forward with new proposals that provide Leeds with the level of flood protection that it was promised”

Adrian Gill, area flood risk manager at the Environment Agency commented;

“"The Environment Agency is fully committed to reducing the risk of flooding to Leeds. Last year, at a cost of £50 million, we saw the completion of the first phase of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. The scheme has reduced the risk of flooding to 3,000 homes, 500 business and 300 acres of development land south-east of Leeds Train Station to Woodlesford.

“Since Boxing Day 2015 we have continued to work with Leeds City Council to develop a comprehensive scheme for Leeds taking a catchment wide approach.

“Subject to funding, Leeds City Council’s preferred scheme would cost £112m. We have recently written to Leeds City Council to confirm our review of their Outline Business Case and will continue to work with them to secure the best possible scheme for Leeds."