Farron challenges Chancellor over Cumbria flood cash

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron has challenged the Chancellor to use the budget to keep the promises made to Cumbria that it would be given the funds needed to fight back from the floods. Earlier this year, the government turned down a £25million funding bid for flood resilience measures across the county.

The £25million flood resilience programme would have paid for upgrades to key infrastructure such as roads and bridges. It would have increased protection for 3,300 homes and businesses, and helped to safeguard 11,000 jobs.

The £25million bid was part of a £165million bid made by the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership to support jobs, growth and enterprise across Cumbria. However, the LEP was awarded just £12.7million of this total - less than 10% of what had been expected.

Tim has written to the Chancellor to call for the £25million needed for the flood resilience programme to be given to Cumbria in tomorrow's budget.

Tim said: "It was massively disappointing when the government turned down Cumbria's bid for funding for flood resilience measures in January. When the floods first hit, Ministers were quick to visit and promise that Cumbria would receive all the funds it needed to recover from that disaster. The budget is an opportunity for the Chancellor to make good on that promise. Providing this cash would help to protect local people from the sort of destruction we experienced during the Storm Desmond floods."