Floods: West Midlands
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Written answers and statements, 5 November 2009
Bill Wiggin (Whip, Whips; Leominster, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's priorities are for the programme of flood defences in the West Midlands.
Huw Irranca-Davies (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine and Natural Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Ogmore, Labour)
The implementation of the Environment Agency's River Tame Flood Risk Management Strategy will reduce flood risk to 2,850 residential and commercial properties. Capital works in other locations including Upton upon Severn at Worcester, Prestbury at Cheshire, Horsbere Brook at Gloucester, Badsey Brook at Worcester and Bedworth near Coventry are also a priority.
To ensure maintenance funding is directed to where it is needed most, a target has been introduced for high flood-risk areas. 96 per cent. of flood defence assets (including those owned by third parties) must be in a serviceable condition by the end of March 2010 in high risk areas. The Environment Agency's maintenance budget is driven by the need to achieve this target.