East Lancashire politicians call for floods action as Lancashire named as danger area (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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East Lancashire politicians call for floods action as Lancashire named as danger area
12:00pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Darwen
By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter
SWAMPED Blackburn Road, Darwen, hit by last week’s floods
EAST Lancashire politicians have urged environment chiefs to tackle flood risks in Darwen, Pendle and Rossendale after a major report warned home-wrecking deluges will become four times more likely in the next 20 years.
A report by the government’s committee on climate change, which highlights Lancashire as one of the danger areas, tells ministers to reverse cuts in flood defence spending because the number of devastating downpours like this summer’s will quadruple in the next two decades.
Its publication coincided with yesterday’s announcement by the Environment Agency that plans to protect Todmorden and Hebden Bridge were being brought forward after severe flooding on Monday.
Blackburn Council leader Kate Hollern and MP Jake Berry joined forces to say Darwen, hit by floods in three consecutive weeks, must not be forgotten in future planning.
In the Ribble Valley, council leader Michael Ranson and MP Nigel Evans said while much work had been done round Ribchester, parts of Clitheroe and Whalley remained in danger.
Pendle’s cabinet member for environment Tony Greaves and the borough’s MP Andrew Stephenson said Nelson, Barrowford, Earby and Burnley also needed extra protection.
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Andy Brown, environment agency flood risk manager for Lancashire, said: “People and properties in Whalley, Darwen, Nelson, Ribchester, Crawshawbooth, Bacup, Rawtenstall, Rossendale and Earby were especially affected by flooding.
“We will be working with partner organisations to see where we can help reduce flood risk."
Coun Hollern said: “Flood protection measures for Darwen should be absolutely a top priority.”
And Mr Berry said: “I recently opened a major flood defence on the River Darwen and there has been work on the River Irwell in Rossendale.
“Darwen must not forgotten as further work is needed.
“And there are also still major flood risks happening in Waterfoot and Crawshawbooth.”
Blackburn MP Jack Straw added: “The report is right that more needs to be spent on flood defences but local authorities cannot be expected to pay for it.”
Comments(14)
dianeakala
says...
12:42pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Me251
says...
1:02pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Bat E Karen
says...
1:17pm Thu 12 Jul 12
A Darener
says...
1:42pm Thu 12 Jul 12
2 for 5p
says...
1:55pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Laugh :-)
CapitaBackHander
says...
3:21pm Thu 12 Jul 12
guinless
says...
3:47pm Thu 12 Jul 12
2 for 5p wrote:you do really sound like a troll - - laughing at people who get flooded - what a 1st class pratt you are.
Yea I bet you all have contents insurance.
Laugh :-)
2 for 5p
says...
7:23pm Thu 12 Jul 12
guinless wrote:im not a troll or a Pratt im just a man who lives on a hill. :-) :-)
2 for 5p wrote:you do really sound like a troll - - laughing at people who get flooded - what a 1st class pratt you are.
Yea I bet you all have contents insurance.
Laugh :-)
totcoms
says...
7:37pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
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8:00pm Thu 12 Jul 12
CapitaBackHander wrote:I totally agree but now some lunatic has said Lancashire is a flooding area our houses on hills will now be classed as high flood risk. talk about unhelpful I give up.
Fair enough IT being a danger area BUT please most of us live on steep hills and have no risk of flooding. Pretty sure my insurance will go up though.
frank
says...
9:42pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Me251 wrote:thats right. i live on a hill, the drain couldn't cope with all teh surface water and that from teh drainpipes and the yard was under two inches of water. i had no choice but to lift the inspection cover to try and drain the yard as were were less than an inch off the water flooding into the kitchen.
Even properties on hills can be flooded... Blocked drains and surface run off can still cause problems even if you are well away from a watercourse
first time in 33 years it's ever been so bad.
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
10:16pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Symboy21
says...
12:56pm Fri 13 Jul 12
CapitaBackHander says...
12:05pm Thu 12 Jul 12