KEETCH RESPONDS TO CITY FLOODS

4.00.00pm GMT Fri 6th Feb 2004

Hereford's Lib Dem MP, Paul Keetch, today met the Senior Environment Agency official in charge of flood defence for this area, Ron Clark. The meeting followed Paul Keetch raising the issue yesterday in Parliament and subsequent further contact with Floods Minister, Elliot Morley, who is currently on an official visit to India.

The MP has also received written information from the Police and local authority concerning the gridlock in the city on Wednesday and Thursday in addition to numerous emails and letters from concerned constituents.

"It was useful to meet and speak on the old Wye Bridge today to the flood defence officer and relate proposals I have seen on paper to the actual environment," said Mr Keetch.

"Whilst we were talking we were approached by several people, including some residents who were very angry that their homes had once again been flooded. There are proposals for a permanent flood defence scheme that are currently being reviewed in a report which should be published in May or June of this year. This will confirm the best way to defend property and roads from floods through the city. It will then require Ministerial approval for the funds to be made available to see the scheme become reality.

"I am told that the cost of the scheme is likely to be in excess of £6million, but if the Asda development proceeds this will contribute at least £2million to the charge. Why then did the Tory controlled council recommend refusal of the Asda scheme?

"If we can get ministerial approval it would take between 2 and 3 years to design and build the scheme which would include permanent walls through the city near the old bridge, embankments on the King George V playing fields and possible excavations through the Bartonsham meadows to increase the water flow. I know that some people locally have suggested temporary barriers be used as in Worcestershire. Given the length of area that needs protecting and the rate in which the Wye rises and falls so quickly, I am advised that these measures are not appropriate for Hereford. Indeed they could cost as much as a permanent scheme. So whilst they may form part of a permanent scheme, we should not consider them as a stopgap - what we need is a permanent solution.

"I am furthermore advised that the suggestion that water released from the Elan Valley dams causes flooding in Hereford is not borne out by Environment Agency experts. They also tell me that if the Wye were to be dredged through the city of Hereford this would have a marginally beneficial effect but the dredging would need to be repeated on a regular basis. In other words, the problem is not the dams and the solution is not dredging and temporary barriers that would cost millions - what we need is a permanent, fully thought out scheme.

"We all know that the Wye has flooded for hundreds of years but the severity is increasing. I will continue to press the government to invest in the future of Hereford by funding this scheme and without delay but it is not being helped by Tory and Independent councillors who voted against Asda's contribution. I hope those individuals saw the misery of recent days," Mr Keetch added.