Laurence Robertson, Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury, Welcomes Government Action on Flooding but Agrees that More Can Be Done
Laurence Robertson MP has endorsed the Conservative Government’s action in response to the recent flooding that took place in parts of the Tewkesbury constituency earlier in the year, however agrees that other flood resilience measures should be considered.
In January this year the Government announced a raft of payments for flood-hit communities to help them recover. For those eligible this included one off payments of up to £500 for households, 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least 3 months for households and businesses, grants for farmers whose land had experienced damage and a future-proofing grant scheme to help make homes and businesses more flood resilient worth up to £5,000.
These measures came as part of this Government’s Flood Recovery Framework, a core package of support developed to assist communities hit by flooding. Ministers can independently determine when this support is made available, as well as other eligibility criteria, depending on the severity of impact.
Commenting, Laurence Robertson MP said:
‘It’s always devastating to hear the stories of families, communities and businesses who have had their lives impacted so severely by flooding, which is why I wholeheartedly welcome this Conservative Government’s strategy to help get people back on their feet.
‘Due to the now annual reoccurrences of flooding I have consistently raised the implementation of alternative solutions, such as dredging, with Ministers in the House of Commons. While I am glad that the Government is taking this issue very seriously indeed, we do need to look at other preventative measures.
The Tewkesbury constituency has one of the highest levels of development in the United Kingdom, more than four times the national average. In a flood risk area this can obviously create problems down the road, and it is something I will continue to take up with the Government.’