£650million floods fear for East Lancashire

Bosses at the Environment Agency have warned that the area is vulnerable to floods which could cause up to £650million worth of damage.

Thousand of homes in East Lancashire towns could suffer if prevention work is not completed to cope with a repeat of recent floods, the Environment Agency (EA) says.

Towns sited near the rivers Calder, Brun, Hyndburn, Darwen and Blakewater, as well as other water sources, could flood again in future as the area feels the effects of global warming.

Burnley MP Kitty Ussher said more needs to be done and she has been backed by her Pendle counterpart Gordon Prentice, saying environment officials cannot afford to be complacent in assessing the threat.

Experts say local authorities must be prepared to cope with extreme weather caused by climate change.

In the past two years East Lancashire has been battered by storms.

Floods were felt across the region in July last year damaging homes and businesses in the Upper Irwell catchment area which includes Bacup, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall.

The River Ribble from Samlesbury and the River Darwen from Darwen including Blackburn and Pleasington were also affected.

Plans are already in place to install warning systems on two rivers to help protect Burnley against flooding.

Kiosks containing specialist equipment to monitor the water levels of both the River Calder and River Brun could be built.

Now the EA also wants early flood warnings in place, water level systems ready for action and local authorities to stop building new homes on floodplains.

A report prepared by the EA for councils and other organisations warns around 2,230 homes in Burnley, Nelson and Colne would be at risk in a major flood.

It says damages could total £360m in that area and states: "The flood risk is high and will rise unacceptably if actions are not increased."

It goes on to recommend officials work with local councils, United Utilities and British Waterways to minimise the risk to the area.

Kitty Ussher, MP for Burnley, said: "If the Environment Agency is saying more needs to be done, then more needs to be done.

"I have had cases of people finding it difficult to get home insurance, which I am concerned about.

"We were lucky not be affected by the floods last year but we should not be complacent."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice added: "There's been a lot of work done on flood provision but I was not aware that there was a problem in Pendle.

"I am very concerned indeed and I want to get chapter and verse from the Environment Agency."

The report - which bosses say is not directly connected to last summer's floods which mostly affected South Yorkshire and Gloucestershire - also warns of potential danger in Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Oswaldtwistle, Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley.

A major flood in Accrington and Oswaldtwistle could affect around 240 homes and run up bills of £168m, EA chiefs believe.

Meanwhile, around 360 houses could be at risk in Blackburn and Darwen if floods occur, causing up to £58m worth of damage.

Stewart Mashiter, head of civil contingencies at Blackburn with Darwen council, said the Town Hall works with police, fire and other agencies to prepare for emergencies.

He added: "The flooding of last summer was unprecedented but in the light of that, and the Pitt review, the council is reviewing its flood response capability."

John Collins, EA area manager, said: "The Environment Agency has identified Burnley as one area at risk of flooding within the River Ribble catchment.

"To reduce this risk we will be working with partners such as local authorities and United Utilities to deliver our recommendations."

Lancashire County Council, British Waterways and United Utilities also said they will work with EA officials to reduce the risk of flooding in the area.

Earlier this month, the EA applied to Burnley council to install flood warning systems on the banks of the River Calder and River Brun.

It followed floods last year when three areas in East Lancashire were put on high alert.