Response to statement by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“The comments by the Secretary of State are disappointing as they do not commit the government to providing the investment in the comprehensive flood defences the city and its residents and businesses clearly need. The work going on in the city centre is only one element of a much larger plan for the whole city, and we are determined to see that comprehensive protection originally put forward by the Environment Agency in 2010 reinstated. The people of Leeds deserve better than to be shortchanged with anything else than the best possible level of protection, so we are very keen to speak to the Secretary of State as soon as possible as part of the review into the situation in Leeds she promised.”

ends