BURT CALLS FOR NEW FLOOD PREVENTION ROLE FOR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES

1.43.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jul 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt today called for the Fire and Rescue Services to be given a lead in future flood prevention activity.

Mr Burt, who formerly worked in a West Midlands County Fire Service Control, said that retained and full-time fire and rescue crews should be trained to lead in flood prevention measures because they were on standby exactly where they were most needed, in our towns and villages.

He also said that the chain of command for dealing with flood chaos was often confused and that equipment and materials were stored too far away to be deployed effectively.

Richard Burt said:

"We have seen a patchy response from councils with too few sandbags often arriving too late to save homes from devastation. We have also seen the absurdity of flood protection barriers marooned on the M5 because they were stored miles away from where they were needed.

"Every town in Worcestershire is protected by a retained or full time fire station, so why not train and equip Fire Fighters locally to deal with the situation as soon as a flood warning is received?

"It would make much more sense for fire and rescue crews in places like Upton and Tenbury to be trained and equipped to lead the initial response."

Mr Burt said that he would be writing to the Chief Fire Officer and Environment Minister, Hilary Benn MP following the promise of a flood defence strategy review by the Prime Minister during his visit to the region yesterday.