Flood defence victory for Lewes

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 19th Jan 2006

Local Lib Dems with Norman on Cliffe Bridge near where the improvements will be built.

Lewes MP Norman Baker and the Lib Dem-controlled District Council, who have both fought long and hard, to get better flood defences for Lewes are celebrating some good news this week.

The Southern Regional Flood Defence Committee have announced that they will be spending £2m over the next five years upgrading the town's flood defences, starting with £400,000 to strengthen defences between Phoenix Causeway and Harvey's Brewery.

By 2010 the whole of the Cliffe should have a 1 in a 100 years standard of protection.

"This development shows the effect of that sustained pressure can have, but there is much campaigning still to be done to get adequate defences for all of Lewes. Although I welcome this investment I will be keeping up the pressure until I see the promised improvements in bricks and mortar." said Norman.

"This is a big step forward for Lewes and we on the District Council thrilled for residents. It's just a shame it took so long to materialise. However, we will not be bought off with a partial solution and will continue to work towards a solution for all of Lewes." added Ann De Vecchi.

This development comes just a week after Norman tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) at Westminster calling on the government to take action to close the £700m national shortfall in flood defence spending.

"The government said in 2000 after the terrible floods that they had had a wake-up call. Yet years on we still have huge swathes of Lewes unprotected, with not even any guarantee that flood defences will be provided at some point in the future. This is simply not good enough. If the Chancellor can find £6bn for a war in Iraq he can surely find £700 m for proper flood defences for people in this country."