Flooding

Debate between Laurence Robertson and Neil Parish

Wednesday 4th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con)]

In 2007, my constituency was badly flooded: three people tragically lost their lives, many lost their water supplies, quite a lot lost electricity and many people were out of their homes for 12 months, living in caravans. It was a desperately difficult time. Since then, a lot of good work has been done in various parts of my constituency, which has certainly helped, but nevertheless we have been flooded many times since, including in the last week and last November.

I wish to highlight two particular things that I feel really should be done. The first is relatively simple: we should clear out ditches more regularly and maintain drains better than we are, and we ought to consider whether we should dredge all rivers, because I understand that that has helped enormously in some areas of the country where it is done. We ought to revisit that policy.

[Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con)]

rose—

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Robertson]

I have limited time, but I shall give way briefly.

[Neil Parish]

I thank my hon. Friend very much for giving way. There is no doubt that the dredging of the River Parrett where it goes out to sea in Somerset has been very effective; I wonder whether the Severn needs the same improvements.

[Mr Robertson]

I am grateful for that intervention.