Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, responds to flooding report

Following the publication of the Environmental Audit Committee report into the government's approach to flooding, Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council said:

“Sadly, Leeds has first-hand experience of the consequences of the government’s approach to funding for flood defences as laid out in the committee’s report.

“A comprehensive scheme that would have offered protection to many Leeds residents and businesses was a victim of the short-sighted and imbalanced strategy when that scheme was rejected in 2011. Those very residents and businesses are now counting the substantial costs.

“We’re working very closely with the Environment Agency to progress – with all haste – the feasibility study on a range of measures that will offer Leeds the flood protection it needs and deserves for the future.

“However, we and Leeds residents and businesses need certainty from the government that we won’t be let down again and that the entirely unfair and unequal distribution of resources the committee refer to as a ‘political calculation’ is addressed.”

A copy of the committee report can be found here.