Ministers could visit Sheffield as part of flood defence review

Environment Secretary Liz Truss made the announcement in the House of Commons yesterday when quizzed by Sheffield MP Louise Haigh about funding for flood defence work.

Following Sheffield Council Leader Julie ods announcement last week that Sheffield was £20 million short for the flood defence work needed to protect the city, Labour’s Ms Haigh repeated the figure and asked if ministers would be visiting Sheffield.

She said: “Sheffield remains £20 million short of its investment needed to protect our city.

“I know the department is holding a teleconference with council leaders, but will the minister commit to visiting Sheffield to see the innovative flood defences we have planned which will protect the city from a potential £1 billion of economic damage?”

Ms Truss replied: “In fact, as part of the national resilience review being led by Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Letwin, Sheffield is one of the core cities that will be particularly looked at to make sure that it is sufficiently resilient to flooding.

“So I’m sure as part of that review there will be a visit to Sheffield to make sure that that very important city does have the protection it needs.”

Sheffield Council and the Environment Agency have developed a flood defence programme involving five new major schemes, which they say would cost £43 million, with the Government so far only earmarking £23 million towards the cost.

The council has written a letter to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on the Government to provide the extra cash needed.