Farron Demands Flood Repair Funds

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron has called on the government to provide additional funding to Cumbria, to help deal with the aftermath of the recent floods.

Following the extreme flooding of the last couple of days, residents have been forced to evacuate as their homes have flooded, whilst business premises have also been adversely affected. Local infrastructure has also faced a severe hit, with many residents facing power blackouts, and many local roads in severe need of repair.

Tim has said that the government must back up its commitment to the 'Northern Powerhouse', an idea often talked about by George Osborne, by providing the funds needed to repair flood damage.

In a letter to David Cameron, Tim insisted that it is "essential that the government respond to this crisis in a fair and forward-thinking way, by making available the funds needed to repair the damage which the extreme flooding has caused in South Lakeland."

Tim has also called on insurance companies to deal quickly with the claims arising from the flood damage, to enable local people to return to normality as soon as possible.

Tim said: "It is heartbreaking to see the impact of flooding once more on local people. My thoughts are with all those whose homes and businesses have been flooded, and who have been forced to evacuate.

"There is now a major task ahead of us in terms of repairing the damage caused by these floods, and I am calling on the government to support us in this and make additional funds available.

"My thanks go to all the staff and volunteers from the emergency services, local authorities and voluntary organisations, for the hard work they have put in to try to minimise the impact of the floods. Electricity NW also deserve credit for their efforts trying to restore power to those affected by power cuts. My thanks also go to rail staff who worked hard to deal with disruption to the network and assist passengers."