Government urged to commit more flood defence funds to 'forgotten communities'

The south east of England is to receive five times more money per person for flood defences in the coming years than parts of the flood-hit north, figures suggest.

Significant differences in per capita spending on new flooding schemes between regions are revealed in the new national infrastructure delivery plan published by the Government.

The plan sets out a pipeline of £4.1 billion of capital investment in schemesfrom 2016/2017 to 2022 and beyond, including major projects in Oxford,Lincolnshire, London and Fylde Peninsula, Lancashire.

A flooded street in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire Credit: Press Association

By the end of 2020/2021, some £2.7 billion will have been spent on betterprotecting 300,000 homes, avoiding £23 billion in household damage and cutting flood risk in England by 5%, the report says.

With more money set to be spent in 2021/2022 and beyond, the long term capital spending on flood and coastal erosion prevention totals #4.1 billion, according to the Government figures.

But an analysis by the Press Association of the six major projects and 23programmes from next year reveals the share of the £4.1 billion is set to bemuch higher per person for the South East than anywhere else in England.

A woman passes items through an upstairs window of a house in Mytholmroyd in Calderdale Credit: Press Association

The figures, based on regional populations, show a per person spending of £167 in the South East, almost double the £92 being spent in Yorkshire and the Humber, one of the areas badly hit by flooding this winter.

The regional breakdown does not take into account around £700 million of the £4.1 billion described as spending in "England", part of which is £120 million earmarked for additional flood defences in areas including York, the Calder Valley and Cumbria.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the per person figures were "misleading" because they did not take into account projects where the benefits would cross different regional boundaries, proposed schemes that were still being assessed and spending on maintenance.

But shadow environment minister Alex Cunningham said: "These figures will be of real concern to communities who feel forgotten by the Government, particularly those who have suffered several flooding incidents in recent years.

"If the Government are serious about creating a Northern Powerhouse, then they must invest in the infrastructure needed to keep businesses open and cities moving."