This in from Andrew Turner’s office, in their own words. Ed
Andrew Turner has organised a meeting for community representatives to discuss recent flooding on the Island with senior representatives from Southern Water and the Environment Agency. Council officers working on the response to the floods are also set to attend and Island Roads have been invited to send a representative.
The Island’s MP took the initiative after a number of people affected by the floods told him they had experienced problems getting responses from Southern Water and the Environment Agency about what was being done to ensure that further heavy rainfall would not lead to their homes and businesses being flooded again.
Mr Turner said:
“Some of the stories from the recent floods have been heartbreaking. People have seen their homes and businesses they have built up swamped with dirty flood water – and in some cases, sewage. I have been told people are having sleepless nights, terrified when they hear rainfall. The response by the various agencies has been patchy, ranging from very good to non-existent.
“There have been problems across the country, but I wanted to make sure that Island communities have a chance to question senior people in Southern Water and the Environment Agency. I am very pleased that council officers will also be there and I hope that Island Roads can also attend.”
Cllr. Jonathan Bacon, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Matters will be attending the meeting added:
“This will be an excellent opportunity to get further information to feed into the Council’s flood response review which is currently underway. It is particularly useful that all relevant agencies should be in attendance so that there is the potential for universally agreed and accepted ways forward. This is an important issue that must be addressed quickly and carefully and we must all do we can to prevent more flooding and disruption to Islanders’ lives.”
Who can attend
In the first instance Mr Turner is contacting every Town and Parish Council on the Island to ask them to nominate two representatives from their area to attend the meeting and Isle of Wight Councillors will also be invited.
If there are spaces still available after they have responded then they will be available on a first come, first served basis to those who have been directly affected by recent floods.
Image: © Dave Miller
