LIB DEM CANDIDATE CALLS FOR HOME FLOOD DEFENCE GRANTS

11.15.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 16th Oct 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt, today called on Malvern Hills District Council to spend the £50,000 flood recovery package they received from central government on flood defence grants for individual homes.

Mr Burt, who visited flood hit residents across the Malvern Hills and Wychavon this summer, said the most effective way to protect properties was by making home flood protection grants available from money given by government to local councils.

Richard Burt, who conducted flood defence surveys in Tenbury and Upton after the summer flooding said:

"Government funding for permanent flood defences will be a long time coming. The extra £200million promised will not be spent until 2010 and will be eaten up by inflation and the cost of repairs to existing defences.

"Flood victims are telling me that they need protection now. Malvern Hills District Council can use the money from government to help householders help themselves. They can do this by making an easy access grant available for home flood defences - as easy as applying for loft insulation.

"Residents in towns and villages across the district would be able to protect their own homes very effectively with door and air brick covers that are readily available from commercial suppliers.

"A grant to cover the cost of these items would mean that all those who suffered from this summer's flooding, despite any financial hardship, would be able to protect their homes better for the future."

"The cost benefit of supplying home flood protection grants far outstrips any other way of spending the money," added Mr Burt