Helen presses Minister on support for flood-hit communities

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has challenged the Floods Minister over the lack of support for flood-hit communities in Shropshire and continued delays to plans for managing the upper Severn catchment.

The Severn Valley Water Management Scheme is meant to be moving ahead, but progress has been slow, and many residents in flood-hit areas like Melverley are beginning to share their frustrations at the lack of action.

Similarly, in urban areas like Oswestry, issues stemming from a lack of resource at Shropshire Council have led to Gobowen Road being shut off with blocked culverts and a great deal of surface water. Helen has also supported nearby residents who have had to pay for water to be pumped away themselves due to problems with drainage.

Helen highlighted these issues to Floods Minister Robbie Moore and pressed him on the need for rural areas to receive as much support as towns that are impacted by flooding.

Helen also raised the difficulties many residents have in accessing the Frequently Flooded Fund, which does not apply to all homes that are frequently flooded, and raised the need for action from the Levelling Up Department to help local authorities to combat flooding.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, told the Commons, “The Minister will be aware that the River Severn, before it gets to Shrewsbury, flows through North Shropshire, and we experience severe flooding every single year and have done for the last three or four years. This year actually, not quite so bad. But I have three questions for the minister on this topic.

“One, what discussions has he had with his colleagues in Wales about managing the upper Severn catchment and finalising the scheme to prevent some of that water coming downstream in the first place?

“Two, when it comes to surface water, surface water flooding has been appalling, actually, over the last few weeks because the council doesn't have the money to clear the culverts and drains. What discussions does he have with DLUHC about that?

“And finally, the frequently flooded fund requires a certain critical number of homes in the community to be flooded in order for it to be eligible. Why is it not just available to every home that is frequently flooded?”