Exeter to receive £2.26m in flood funding
Exeter has been awarded £2.26m to protect homes and businesses from flooding. Three schemes will benefit from new funding from the Labour Government, with £224,000 for Exeter’s Flood Defence Scheme, £150,000 for property-level flood resilience, and £1,887,000 for repairs to Trews Weir.
Following the Labour Government’s commitment to invest a record £2.65 billion over two years towards the construction of new flood schemes and the repair and maintenance of existing ones, the Environment Agency has this week published a list of the communities across the nation to benefit from projects this year, which includes the three schemes in Exeter.
I welcome the investment in Exeter, and am delighted that it includes much-needed funding to protect Trews Weir. Residents have told me how worried they are about the damage being caused to Trews Weir by debris that is swept along the River Exe, particularly with increasingly intense winter storms. I raised this issue with the Environment Agency and with ministers, and I’m delighted that they’ve listened.
As climate change means our weather will be increasingly extreme, it’s important that we invest in our flood defences to protect our city. This is economic investment, environmental investment, and it will also provide security for residents and businesses.
This investment is part of the Government’s Plan for Change, delivering security for working people and renewal for our country. It will boost economic growth in local communities, by protecting businesses, delivering new jobs, and supporting a stable economy in the face of the increasing risk of flooding as a result of climate change.
Labour’s Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “I know from firsthand experience the devastating impacts that flooding can cause. The role of Government is to protect its citizens. However, we inherited flood defences in their worst condition on record following 14 years of Conservative neglect. Through our Plan for Change, we are supporting three schemes in Exeter, ensuring residents have the long-term protection they need, while boosting local growth and creating new jobs.”
