Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help improve flood defences in Grantham and Bourne constituency.

The Environment Agency (EA) works to reduce flood risk across the Grantham and Bourne constituency, which includes the Upper River Witham, South Forty Foot Drain, Upper River Slea, River Welland and East Glen catchments.

Work is underway to improve flood risk modelling for the Upper River Witham, with outputs under review to strengthen understanding of risk and inform investment. The Upper Witham Strategic Review, including Grantham, has been identified as a potential future project, with initial assessment work expected from 2027.

In the Fenland areas of the constituency, including the South Forty Foot Drain and Welland Fens, the EA has helped develop the Fens 2100+ programme, which has published baseline reports and a Case for Change to inform long-term flood risk management and climate adaptation.

The Department also supports Lincolnshire County Council’s Defra-funded Project Groundwater, installing water level monitors in Bourne and Lower Bitchfield to support local flood action planning.