Local Euro MP critical of Tory council's delay to flood review

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Oct 2007

Local Liberal Democrat Diana Wallis has criticised East Riding Council's slowness in reviewing the lessons of the summer's devastating floods.

MEP Diana Wallis, who lives in the East Riding, said:

"We have now passed the 100 days mark since the devastating floods of the summer and I am astonished at how slow East Riding Council's response has been. The Council's Flooding Review Panel has only just met for the first time and not been to Hessle at all where close to a 1000 houses were flooded. A meeting has not even been set up. This is frankly not good enough.

"Compare this with Hull City Council which has already had its interim report published and has started to act on recommendations. For example, just recently in Hull's report we've seen announcements that many privately-owned gullies, drains and sewers could be taken over by Yorkshire Water. Also how the Council wants to swap information and best-practice with other low-lying regions and cities across Europe.

"In the East Riding I can't see what the wait has been all about. If we were unlucky to have floods again in this area over the next few months I am not sure how East Riding Council thinks will be any more prepared. Many people have said to me how appalled they are by the council's lack of urgency."

(Photo shows Beverley, East Riding underwater. Hull Daily Mail)