Lancashire County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Department for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of funding for flood alleviation schemes throughout the county.
Thousands of homes will be better protected from the devastating effects of flooding. Defra and the Environment Agency have confirmed that over £37million has been set aside to construct and maintain flood defences across the county in 2014/15.
Funding was announced for the following schemes in Lancashire:
• Anchorsholme and Rossall on the Wyre and Blackpool coast are set to receive over £32m towards major new sea defences that will reduce the risk of flooding to over 900 homes and businesses
• Croston will receive £4m million from the fund to construct defences that will reduce the risk of flooding to more than 450 local homes and businesses.
• Further Lancashire County Council-led schemes to reduce the risk of flooding will benefit communities at Irwell Vale in Rossendale, and Sunnyside Terrace in Wyre
County Councillor Janice Hanson, cabinet member for public protection, said: “The government recently introduced changes to the way flood risk is managed within the county. Lancashire County Council is now adopting a lead role to coordinate partner agencies and take a proactive approach to understanding and, where possible, dealing with local problems.
“Along with Blackpool Council, we’re currently consulting on a local flood risk management strategy which aims to ensure we’re better placed to understand prevent and respond to the threat of surface water, groundwater, flooding from ordinary watercourses, and coastal flooding.
“The Anchorsholme and Rossall schemes are a very welcome investment which will help to protect properties and vital infrastructure such as, property, businesses, roads and tramways.
“The scheme in Croston will build on the work we’re already engaged in with partners to improve drainage, and will enable us to develop a lasting solution to the flooding issues the village has suffered in recent years.
The draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Lancashire explains the nature of flood risk across the county, who is responsible for managing the various types of flooding, and outlines proposals for further work to improve understanding of the causes, as well as specific objectives and measures to reduce the risk.
Although Lancashire is benefitting from the funding, none of 42 new flood defence schemes announced by the Government yesterday are in Cornwall, Devon or Somerset – despite the counties being suffering some of the worst of the recent storms.
• Consultation on the strategy is open until Friday 21st February 2014 with the intention of adoption in early April 2014. To respond, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk and search for “Flooding”.