A STATEMENT ON THE DECISION BY THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY TO WITHDRAW THE TEMPORARY DEFENCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR RIBCHESTER

The Ribble Valley Labour Party is responding with consternation at the decision by the Environment Agency to withdraw the Temporary Flood Management plan for Ribchester and urges action to ensure that residents of Ribchester are not left vulnerable to flooded homes due to their decision.

In a recent statement by the Environment Agency, due to a change in regulations the current barrier deployment does not meet the new regulations and an increase in equipment and staff to deploy the extra equipment makes such an effort practically and financially unviable for Ribchester. This feels like a desertion due to lack of funding but wrapped up in the excuse of regulation changes.

Ribchester needs a viable Flood Defence Plan. Residents in Ribchester live with the constant threat of a repeat of the 2015 floods happening again and this decision to leave residents vulnerable is a step back in progress towards a permanent flooding solution in Ribchester. The threat of flooding is an additional burden when coupled with the current cost of living crisis.

Ribble Valley Labour urges the Environment Agency to collaborate productively and co-operatively with residents, the County Council, and the Borough Council to find workable solutions which maintain a flood barrier defence plan. Ribchester needs funding to update its Flood Defence Plan. As winter approaches it is unacceptable that residents are left completely at risk of their homes flooding as the only defence solution currently offered to them is removed. With this current vulnerability, it’s vital that Lancashire County Council prioritise Ribchester for winter maintenance tasks within its responsibilities such as roadside gully clearance.

It is no co-incidence either that the Environment Agency has announced they cannot afford to fund an updated Flood Defence plan right at the time that the new Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that there would be a fresh wave of government departmental spending cuts. The fresh round of austerity is already hitting the people of Ribchester.

A number of steps which the Environment Agency could have taken to mitigate the effect of their decision include timing the decision during the summer, to allow ample time to consider further flood prevention plans before the onset of potential winter storms where the flooding threat is most acute. In addition, a more permanent flood defence management plan should have been put in place following the 2015 flooding however seven years on no solution has been offered.

Quotes

“The decision by the Environment Agency to withdraw the Temporary Flood Defence Management Plan for Ribchester is a terrible blow for Ribchester residents who are already facing a difficult winter due to the cost of living and energy crises. Keeping homes warm is one thing and residents should be supported to keep their homes dry. It’s a dereliction of duty and I urge a more pragmatic approach from the Environment Agency who are no doubt preparing for the government cuts coming down the line. They need to be working with the Government, Borough, and County Council to find a properly funded solution. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to have happened and Ribchester going to suffer from such poor decision making by those in charge.”

(Karl Barnsley, Labour Party Borough Council Candidate for Ribchester)

For Further Comment please contact:

Karl Barnsley- 07767886145 or karl.barnsley88@gmail.com