Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson welcomes progress on flood defence work at Lunt Meadows
Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson says progress on flood defence work at Lunt Meadows is “good news” for Maghull after Storm Christoph flooded the area last month. But he said “more must be done” to protect Maghull from future flood events, and he has asked to meet the Environment Secretary George Eustice to discuss funding.
Commenting on the progress of flood defence work, Mr Esterson said: “Thank you to the Environment Agency for continuing their hard work repairing the breach at Lunt Meadows.”
“Despite heavy winds affecting the use of a helicopter in the repairs, work has continued. This is good news for Maghull.”
Commenting on funding from the government to carry out flood defences, Mr Esterson said: “The Environment Agency say that they need £1.7 million to protect homes in Maghull. But the government have suggested they could only provide £750,000. This is plainly wrong.”
“The government said last March that £5.2 billion was available for flood defences. Where is the money for Maghull?”
“I have asked the Environment Secretary to meet me so that we can work together to find a solution.”
“As climate change increases the risk of future flooding events, more must be done to protect the region.”
Significant rainfall during Storm Christoph on January 20 and 21 damaged one of the banks of the River Alt which caused flooding to the Lunt Meadows.
The government has pledged £5.2bn for flood defence work across the UK.
The Environment Agency has identified £1.7m of works that would protect Maghull from future flood events via a raised embankment at Dover’s Brook; DEFRA has promised just £750,000 toward the scheme.
The Environment Agency began work last week (week beginning Feb 15) to fix the breached riverbank on the River Alt at Lunt meadows Nature Reserve and flood storage area in the latest phase of response to last month’s floods.
Lunt Meadows, which is managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, has been designed to act as both a flood storage area and a nature reserve, providing wetland habitats for species, such as water vole, marsh harrier and kingfisher, while also holding excess rain and river water.
Mr Esterson’s Parliamentary Questions on Maghull flooding can be found here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-02-22/156364 and here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-21/141433
