Farron calls for government to stop dragging its feet over flood defences

Local MP Tim Farron has called for the government to take immediate action to deliver flood defences.

Tim said: "The dreadful floods are a timely reminder that an incident like Storm Desmond or worse could hit our community at any time.

"In December 2015, the government agreed to our bid for £25m for flood relief schemes along the River Kent and its tributaries, and yet two years on and not a single piece of engineering work has taken place.

"When I wrote to Michael Gove in October urging him and the government to get on with bringing in flood defences, his response was that work wouldn't be starting until 2019/2020.

"This simply isn't good enough.

"There needs to be much greater urgency to deliver flood defences for the reassurance of local residents, businesses, farmers and visitors."