MARTIN GRILLS MINISTER ON FLOOD RISK (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

MARTIN GRILLS MINISTER ON FLOOD RISK

October 17, 2007 6:51 PM

In the House of Commons yesterday, Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood asked flooding minister John Healey MP in the House of Commons about government plans to build houses in areas on flood risk in Cheltenham.

Speaking at the oral parliamentary question session for Communities and Local Government, Martin said:

Martin Horwood: Houses which flash flooded in June and July in Cheltenham are now facing in some cases spiralling insurance premiums and possibly falling house prices.

Is it wise or unwise to plan to build more homes in flood risk areas like Leckhampton, which could in time lead to houses being built there which could be unsaleable and uninsurable and exacerbate flooding in nearby communities in Cheltenham.

John Healey: As the Hon Gentlemen knows we have tightened up considerably the legislation and the regulations around planning. We did so in December last year. It means now that the preference is for any location that is low flood risk. He will also appreciate, coming from his area, that it isn't always possible to avoid flood risk altogether. So built in to the process now, where there is a flood risk, there is a requirement for the Environment Agency to offer an assessment to the planning authorities of the risk entailed. That is reducing the risk for developments in the future.

Commenting Martin said:

"After what Cheltenham and other towns in the UK have experienced over this summer, it is clear that we need to seriously rethink our approach to planning. House building needs to be sustainable, and it can't be at the expense of flood risk or highly valued green spaces, like those in Leckhampton.

"Warden Hill also flooded badly in the summer and it is quite possible that house building just uphill in Leckhampton would put homes there at even more risk. The minister didn't entirely answer but it is welcome news that we can call in Environment Agency advice on inappropriate planning applications like the one in Leckhampton."