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Local MP Questions Secretary of State for Environment on Flooding in Oxford
July 25, 2007 1:45 PM
Dr Evan Harris and Abingdon Town Councillor Lesley Legge visit the flooded areas of Abingdon and talk to residents
Dr Evan Harris MP for Oxford West and Abingdon returned hotfoot to Westminster yesterday after visiting the flood-stricken streets of his constituency.
'It was clear that Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was not prepared for the extra significant flood damage that has happened to Oxford. I had urgent questions for him over the situation that we face here. The areas around the Botley Rd and Osney Island were flooded in 2000, 2003 and now. We have moved from floods once very 40 years to floods 3 times in 7 years.'
Dr Evan Harris visits Abingdon earlier this week to see the flooding
Chris Huhne MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment and Dr Evan Harris are to visit Oxford today at 4pm to meet with John Goddard, leader of Oxford City Council, and representatives of the various agencies dealing with the floods. They will then be visiting some of the affected areas to meet with local people and hear their stories.
Both Chris Huhne and Evan Harris asked for assurances that the Environment Agency's budget would be front-loaded over this period to give urgent protection to frequently flooded areas, because they need it.
Both Chris and Evan paid tribute to the various emergency agencies involved in dealing with the severe flooding and distress which this causes to local residents. Said Evan, 'Our sympathies go to the residents of Oxford who have had to live with government underfunding of the flood defence budget.'
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