KEETCH ASKS MINISTER TO VISIT HEREFORD FLOODS

11.29.56am GMT Thu 5th Feb 2004

Paul Keetch, Lib Dem MP for Hereford, has written to the Government Minister with responsibility for flooding, Elliot Morley MP, to ask him to visit Herefordshire to see the disruption caused by floods in the county.

Mr Keetch also called on the Minister to do all he could to speed up the process of developing a new flood defence system for Hereford.

Mr Keetch said: "If the current weather continues, as is predicted, then the county looks set to see serious floods yet again, some major problems have already occurred.

"I met the Minister with representatives from the Hereford Campaign for Flood Defences in December. He said then that the Government remained committed to the idea of flood defences for Hereford, but I have asked him today to outline what progress has been made since then, and I have also invited him to come to Hereford, if more floods do come, to see the disruption for himself."

The MP has raised the issue of flooding with Ministers on numerous occasions, including in 2002 bringing the issue to the attention of the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Question Time.

"The Government, even Tony Blair, has said that they are committed to trying to help alleviate the flood problems in the county," Mr Keetch said. "But when push comes to shove little seems to get done. A decent flood defence program in Hereford could help so many residents and businesses, I just hope that if we can persuade the Minister or one of his officials to come and see the problem, we can spur them on to action."