Flood project gets ministerial backing

A project to help prevent severe flooding in Southwell has been backed by a Government minister.

Therese Coffey, a minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, told Southwell’s MP, Mr Robert Jenrick, the project represented good value for money and was very likely to be approved.

She also backed a move to divert £230,000 of funding initially set aside for residents after the summer 2013 floods to a wider project to shore up the town’s defences.

Residents had the chance to claim a Repair and Renew Grant of up to £5,000 to repair damage to their homes and build flood defences.

Many did not apply for the grant and asked instead for the money to be used on a wider flood mitigation project in Southwell.

Therese Coffey met Mr Jenrick, Mr Bruce Laughton, who represents Southwell on Newark and Sherwood District Council, and Mr Roger Jackson, the town’s Nottinghamshire county councillor, to discuss the project.

Mr Jenrick said planning for the wider Southwell scheme was coming to fruition and it had been a positive meeting.

He said: “We had a very productive meeting with the minister in which I explained that it must be an article of faith to us that those residents who had asked for their Repair and Renew Grants to be put towards the delivery of the wider scheme, see their well-intentioned request fulfilled.

“The minister confirmed that, having examined the issue, she could not see any reason why that would not happen, which was very welcome news.

“She also commented that the wider scheme for Southwell, which has been revised and improved, seemed to her to represent good value for money and so was very likely to be approved and the major government investment through the Environment Agency delivered.

“Roger, Bruce and I were very encouraged and hope this is another hurdle jumped and we are entering the final furlong before the scheme is delivered.”

'There are people who, every time it rains, get worried it is going to flood'

The Government has pledged £720,000 towards the mitigation scheme, on top of the £230,000 from the Repair and Renew scheme.

The county council has pledged £600,000; the district council £220,000, and the community, led by Southwell Flood Forum, is looking to raise £125,000.

The town council has pledged a contribution and was due to discuss the exact amount at a meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Laughton said: “The £230,000 assured by DEFRA through the Repair and Renew Grant is an essential part of the funding formula.

“That is the reason why myself and Roger Jackson went down, to make sure one of the last pieces of the puzzle was completed as far funding is concerned.

“We had a very positive response and what I was pleased with was the minister had done the necessary work before the meeting and understood what the issues were in Southwell.

“There are people in Southwell who, every time it rains, get worried it is going to flood.

“Everybody needs to be working in the same direction and in a positive direction for the town.”

The flood defence scheme, drawn up by JBA Consulting, would include a 30,000 cubic metre storage area at Potwell Dyke, which would reduce the flood risk to downstream areas such as Church Street.

It would also include flood prevention measures benefitting the Kirklington Road, Springfield Road, Archers Field, Crafts Way and other areas of the town.