LGA responds to Government statement on flooding

“To support protection work by councils to prepare for heavy rainfalls this winter, funding for flood defences needs to be devolved to local areas to ensure money is directed towards projects that best reflect local needs."

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Responding to a statement by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Theresa Villiers, on the flooding over the summer and the Government’s plans to review its approach to reservoirs, Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s Environment spokesman, said:

“Flooding can devastate communities, causing enormous disruption to families and businesses, and resulting in clean-up bills costing hundreds of millions of pounds.

“To support protection work by councils to prepare for heavy rainfalls this winter, funding for flood defences needs to be devolved to local areas to ensure money is directed towards projects that best reflect local needs, which includes protecting key roads and bridges to keep local residents and businesses moving.

"The Government also needs to further incentivise firms to make contributions for flood defences and introduce mandatory anti-flood requirements for new homes in building regulations.

“It is important that tomorrow’s Spending Round provides much-needed investment in council services, including for flood prevention work, ahead of the Government announcing further plans on flood risk management.”