Earlier this year Richard wrote to DEFRA Secretary, Steve Reed, regarding the Water Management Alliance he established last year in conjunction with Bedford Borough Mayor, Tom Wootton.
Richard Fuller MP said:
I highlighted this Alliance as a good example of a collaborative approach to bringing together all relevant local and national bodies to effectively address issues of flooding and pollution. A benefit of this way of working is that it helps to eliminate the 'buck passing' between agencies that we've seen in the past.
I also alerted the Minister to a petition on an issue of major concern to residents in the Wyboston area, one of the parts of my constituency most affected by flooding. In response to the inadequate maintenance of flood defences on that stretch of the River Great Ouse.
I have now received a response from Emma Hardy MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding which, at least in part, addressed the points I raised in my original correspondence.
You can follow the links in the Minister's letter here:
- EA’s annual maintenance programme can be found here.
- St Ives and Brownshill Staunch Sluices Information can be found here.
- EA’s approach to dredging can be found here.
- You can read Richard's initial letter here.
Richard also met with Sadia Moeed, the Environment Agency's East Anglia Area Director for the West.
Richard added:
I had a very constructive meeting with Sadia Moeed. Sadia and I were fully aligned on the importance of a strategic approach to tackling flooding and water quality, especially taking into account the significant levels of planned and potential infrastructure development in Bedfordshire in coming years. I am particularly pleased that Sadia attended in person the first meeting of the Bedford Borough Water Management Alliance held last month.
We also discussed the suitability and viability of a potential new town on the Tempsford flood plain.
