21 January 2014
Waveney MP Peter Aldous yesterday called on the Government to ensure that sea defences are repaired as quickly as possible.
 
In Oral Questions to the Minister for Floods, Brandon Lewis, Mr Aldous highlighted that sea defences were badly damaged in the storm surge on 5 December. In light of the fact that the repairs are not automatically covered by the Bellwin scheme, he asked the Minister for confirmation that in his forthcoming meeting with local authorities he will work with them to ensure that the repair works are carried out as quickly as possible to enable coastal communities in Suffolk and Norfolk to get back on their feet as soon as possible.
 
The Minister gave his reassurances that the Bellwin scheme is only one part of the funding available areas impacted by flooding. He went on to confirm that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be addressing the matter of sea defences in a report to Parliament in the next few weeks as the Environment Agency’s programme moves forward.
 
Mr Aldous said:
 
“It is important that sea defences are repaired as quickly as practically possible following the floods, so that communities can get back on their feet as quickly as possible with there being no negative knock on impact to the tourism season. I look forward to the Government’s forthcoming report which I hope will provide the basis for further improvements to coastal defences so that the impact of future floods in the Lowestoft area is minimised accordingly.”