Call for assurances over flood cash

Hull City Council leader Carl Minns today called for assurances from the Government that increased flood defence funding promised in the wake of the 2007 deluge is not in doubt.

Councillor Minns has written to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn to "seek assurance the Government will not go back on its word" to deliver an extra £200m to be spent on flood defences.

Following the devastating floods in Hull and other parts of the country in 2007, Mr Benn pledged an extra £200m to improve flood risk management.

He said spending on flood risk management and defences would rise from £600m in 2007-08 to £800m in 2010-11.

But earlier this week, Chris Smith, chairman of the Environment Agency, claimed the increased budget of £800m by 2010-11 was "far from a guaranteed figure" in the face of the squeeze on public spending.

And he issued a plea to councillors to lobby their party leaders to ensure extra cash for flood defences remained a priority.

Now Cllr Minns has written to Mr Benn to take the Government to task on the issue. In his letter to the minister, he said: "I am greatly concerned to read the reported remarks of the chairman of the Environment Agency that the £800m previously pledged by your Government, to improve flood risk management, is not a guaranteed figure.

"I am sure I do not need to remind you it was pledged after the severe flooding in June 2007 and is vitally needed in communities across the country, including here in Hull.

"I am writing to seek your assurance the Government will not go back on its word and the promised extra £200m will be delivered by the Government.

"I am sure you will appreciate the thousands of people affected by flooding will be extremely concerned when they read the comments of the agency chairman."

The extra funding has not yet been earmarked for specific projects by the council.

Cllr Minns told the Mail: "To go back on their word now would be a betrayal not only of communities who have suffered, but the future priorities in this area."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "The Government committed to invest more than £2.15bn up to 2011 and that commitment still stands.

"And with possible lower construction prices, this money could deliver even greater benefits than originally planned."