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James Elles calls
for future EU funding for flood prevention
James Elles,
the Conservative European MP, has paid tribute to a key
Oxfordshire local government officer, who masterminded the
emergency operation to deal with flooding last year, for giving
a “clear explanation of the predicament and suffering caused to
those living in the Thames Valley” to a European Parliament
meeting in Brussels yesterday (Thursday).
Cath James, the West Oxfordshire District Council’s Strategic
Director for Environment who led the council’s emergency
response to the July flooding and on-going recovery, had earlier
addressed members of the European Parliament’s budgets committee
which voted yesterday (Thursday) to confirm a grant of £115
million flooding disaster relief for Britain.
She explained
to MEPs that some 48,000 homes across Britain were flooded
throughout the property during June and July 2007. In West
Oxfordshire the figure was 1,700 households and 300
businesses. In 2007 England and Wales had its wettest July
rainfall since 1879. On Friday 20 July a record amount of rain
– 126.2 millilitres – fell on Brize Norton. This compared with
the previous highest daily rainfall of 79.5 millilitres in 1968.
The
multi-agency response to the flooding in West Oxfordshire had
been “superb” as the rising waters affected individuals,
communities, farmers and businesses. Even now, seven months
after the flooding, 100 to 200 people are still waiting to get
back in their homes in West Oxfordshire.
After the
budgets committee meeting Mr Elles, who himself had given a
graphic account of the flooding when he addressed a full session
of the European Parliament last September, expressed thanks to
Cath James for her “on-the-spot” analysis of the situation which
he said proved to be extremely helpful to parliamentarians.
He said he was
all too aware of how many people living in the Thames Valley,
including West Berkshire and Wokingham as well as West
Oxfordshire, were still living in temporary accommodation whilst
their homes were continuing to be dried out and renovated.
In his speech
to the committee Mr Elles asked for details of where money would
be going once approved. He said that it was the most rapid
measure in response to a request for help and the biggest every
granted to the United Kingdom.
Mr Elles, who
on visits to flood affected areas is conscious that flood
prevention schemes would cost a tiny percentage of the damage
caused last summer, expressed the hope that whilst the EUSF is a
new fund it should be able to focus on preventative measures.
He also hoped
that the Thames Valley would receive an equitable amount of
money to compensate councils for flooding damage.
The budgets
committee recommendation for the grant will be considered by the
plenary session of the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg
during the week beginning Monday, 10 March. |
