Isle support for Flood Free Homes scheme

The campaign has been launched by the Association of British Insurers, supported by Friends of the Earth, Know Your Flood Risk, National Flood Forum, and the Property Care Association’s Flood Protection Group. Its aim is to raise the issue of long term flood defence investment and land and water management.

In a mission statement the campaign sets out to invest by 2025, £1 billion per year to be spent managing flood risk in order to keep pace with climate change. It also aims to adopt a zero tolerance of inappropriate new developments in areas at risk of flooding and plan cross party parliamentary consensus on ambitious long term solutions that manage all types of flood risk.

Crowle councillor John Briggs said: “This is a very emotive issue. We need to secure investment on this side of the Trent as well as the other side as many homes in this area are prone to flooding. This was highlighted when in 2014 we saw flooding affect many when the Trent burst its banks leaving properties flooded out.”

MP Andrew Percy added: “I am supporting the campaign for Flood Free Homes, which calls for effective management of our land and water. I know the devastating impact that flooding has had on our area and I want to make sure that home-owners and local businesses do not suffer from destructive floods in the future. We need ambitious long term solutions to protect communities.”