Shropshire and Telford council leaders join forces to plead for government flooding help
Council leaders have issued a plea for emergency floods funding and support from the government to help "stop this annual cycle of misery".
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils are urging George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to give funding to support the response to this month’s floods.
It follows a visit by Mr Eustice to Shrewsbury and Ironbridge after floods in February 2020, which he described as "a once in a century event," and the visit of flooding minister Rebecca Pow on Thursday.
Ms Pow reiterated the difference that previously announced policies would make but did not announce any new funding or support.
This week’s floods have seen higher river levels and hundreds of homes and businesses along the River Severn flooded yet again.
Shropshire has, since 2020, seen three of the five worst ever recorded flood events.
In a letter to Mr Eustice, the leaders of both councils say that the floods are placing a huge amount of stress and pressure on to residents, businesses and communities alike, and that the situation is unsustainable.
Lezley Picton, the Conservative leader of Shropshire Council, said: “Flooding is becoming the new normal, so our residents and businesses need to be more protected and better prepared.
"It is not only emergency funding that is needed. Of the 80 Severe Flood Alerts recently issued, 44 applied to the River Severn, 60 miles of which flow through Shropshire. We need the government to support our efforts and develop a much-needed long-term solution.
“We are actively working with the River Severn Partnership and with the Environment Agency to develop a range of strategies: however, we do need the government to commit to work with us and find solutions that can mitigate the devastating effects of the flooding we now so regularly experience.”
Shaun Davies, the Labour leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, added: “We need to see changes to the local government funding formula to support both our role as Lead Local Flood Agencies, and allow us to support investment in flood defences to recognise rural need, heritage, history and tourism.
"The Ironbridge Gorge is the only World Heritage Site in the West Midlands area and we need to find a more permanent solution to protect it.
“We need an urgent River Severn conference, with government ministers and all interested partners and representatives of key stakeholders, to put plans in place that will stop this annual cycle of misery for our residents and businesses.”
