Flooding Kept on Agenda by Lib Dems

5.42.35pm GMT Thu 1st Nov 2007

In Grove, during the July 2007 floods - this is normally the road to the village green!

The Lib Dem motion on flooding which was deferred at the last Council meeting because it was "not urgent enough" is to come to the County Council meeting next week.

Cllr Bob Johnston, whose motion it is, said, "Although time has moved on since the floods much of what we were suggesting in September is still relevant. We were calling for specific actions to be taken, such as undertaking a survey of those ditches and culverts for which the County Council is responsible, and calling on the Environment Agency and Thames Water to meet their obligations.

"I hear that there may be European money available to improve flood defences - if so, this is very welcome news. But, let us be clear, when Cllr Mitchell says as he has today that there will be a debate at Council, that debate is only because we have raised the issue. I'm surprised at his keenness now to point out that the County is discussing flooding, when in September he joined with the rest of the Council to refuse a debate. The only reason we will be debating it next week is because I have refused to let this be swept under the carpet and so have brought my motion back two months on."