MP asks government to look again at flood funding

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on the government to review funding for flood relief schemes. His call follows warnings by the NFU that new Government plans to maintain waterways are inadequately funded and leave many areas vulnerable to flooding.

Defra's response to the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee's report into managing flood risk sidesteps key issues raised by the NFU and other organisations regarding watercourse maintenance and rural flooding. Tim has asked ministers to look again at the issue and cited the example of Kendal's flood relief funding being removed in 2010.

Documents obtained by the Guardian's Environmental Editor Damien Carrington show that in 2010 the Environmental Agency had allocated £325,000 to spend on building up flood defences on the River Kent in Kendal between 2011/2012. The project was due to start in 2013/14, but was then not mentioned in the following year's allocations.

The documents go on to state that the project was 'not funded' in 2012/13, but had indicative funding from 2013/14, stating: "Confirmation of funding and timing will depend upon the development of outcomes, costs and partnership arrangements, considered in the context of national prioritisation."

Speaking this morning, Tim said: "I am pressing the government to look again at these plans and reinstate the funding for the Kendal project. We have had some success in securing work for the Hallgarth area of the town, but I want us to go further.

"Flooding is affecting people's livelihoods and it is important that it gets sorted. We can't keep finding ourselves in these situations each time it rains. I want to help our local residents to combat the problems caused by flooding, no matter what it takes and the government can play a key part. I want them to reinstate the funding for the Kendal scheme."