2004 press releases

Baker Blasts Blair Over PM's Refusal To Visit Lewes For Urgent Review On Flood Action

Lewes MP and Lib Dem Shadow Environment Minister Norman Baker has hit out at Tony Blair after the Prime Minister rejected his calls to visit Lewes to see for himself the areas of the town where, four years on from the floods of 2000, no flood defence scheme has yet been prepared, yet alone implemented. In an answer to a parliamentary question that Norman tabled, Tony Blair revealed that he had no plans to visit the area which was severely hit by flooding in 2000 and where many homes and businesses still have to cope with inadequate provision by central Government to safeguard them from flood damage.

Speaking about the Prime Minister's comments, Norman says:

 "No town in the country was as badly hit by the huge floods of 2000 than Lewes. John Prescott said the government had had a wake-up call. Sadly, it now seems they've all gone back to sleep. It is disgraceful that, almost four years on, not a single brick has been laid and there are not even plans to protect most of the town. Whilst I realise that - sadly - Lewes is not an isolated case in suffering from it the need to implement effective counter-measures is particularly urgent. I therefore asked the Prime Minister to come down here and see this for himself so that this could be done without unnecessary delay. Whilst I am disappointed by his reply I am, frankly not surprised. The environment has never been a big issue for Tony Blair and tackling major problems facing the world such as climate change seem to come far down his government's agenda." 

"I can assure all my constituents that I will continue to apply maximum pressure to the government to make them live up to their responsibilities, and their word, to the people of Lewes."

ENDS 

A full copy of Norman's questions and the Prime Ministers response is attached

Written Parliamentary Answers 26 Apr 2004 

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the Lewes constituency to inspect those areas which were subject to flooding in 2000 and where no flood defence works have yet been proposed. [167799] 

The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so. Planned expenditure by the Environment Agency on flood risk management in 2005-06 will be 80 per cent. higher than in 2000-01. This increase has and will continue to enable greater protection of communities that are vulnerable to flooding. In the case of Lewes, in at least one area, planning permission has recently been granted for this work and construction should begin this year.

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