£1.2m could end flood woes for residents near Lustrum Beck

1 Feb 2014 11:20

Flood relief could be on the way for fed-up residents in Stockton if the Government signs off £1.2m next week to improve defences at Lustrum Beck

Lustrum Beck's levels rise

Flood relief could be on the way for fed-up residents in Stockton if the Government signs off £1.2m next week to improve defences at Lustrum Beck.

And a leading Stockton councillor is “quietly confident” that the much-needed cash will be approved.

An announcement is expected following the Environment Agency main board meeting on Thursday.

Properties in the Lustrum Beck area were among those worst affected during the 2012 Autumn floods.

Stockton has already secured £415,000 from the North-East local levy to pay for a smaller scheme to reduce the risk of flooding at Brown’s Bridge.

But the Environment Agency (EA) and Stockton Council have also submitted a bid for £1.2m which would enable further flood defence and alleviation work to be undertaken for the beck.

The causes of flooding in the area are complex and involve both surface water flooding as well as river flooding.

Scores of family homes were left swamped in September 2012 after Stockton was hit by the worst flooding in 30 years.

David Rose, Stockton Council’s Cabinet member of environment at Stockton Council, said: “If we get this funding, added to the £415,000 we have already secured from the regional Local Levy it means there will be £1.6m available to finally carry out major works to help protect properties from Lustrum Beck flooding.

“We saw back in September 2012 the devastating effect when the beck burst its banks and we have been working hard over the last couple of years to try and get the funding needed.

“The Coalition Government has cut the national flood defences budget substantially since 2010, despite flood defences on average preventing £8 in future flood damages per £1 spent.

“We are doing everything we can to try and get the funding needed to better protect Stockton residents’ properties and I am hopeful the Government will agree this indicative allocation.

“People have told me that flood defences for Lustrum Beck have been discussed for more than a decade, but I am quietly confident that the vital need - as demonstrated by the impacts in 2012 - will finally be recognised.”

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Council, added: “Everyone is hopeful we will secure this vital funding.

“We are determined to do all we can to help people affected by flooding and the valuable work by politicians, officers and the Environment Agency highlights that tackling the effects of climate change go hand in hand with tackling social inclusion.”