Letter to the press: Floods in Crewkerne and Yeovil

I have seen with alarm the recent flash
flooding that has occurred in Crewkerne, Yeovil, Ilminster and other
surrounding areas.

Now that the waters have receded it is
vitally important that we understand more about how areas such as
this suffered in the recent rainfall. The rainfall was not unique and
we must be concerned about its apparent impact in an area of the
country that you would not normally associate with wholesale
flooding.

In looking at the causes of flash
flooding we must look to the cleansing of gullies, storm drains and
culverts and I have therefore written to the County Council asking
them to detail for me what cleaning and clearing regime exists for
these drains and specifically for them to give me a list of the
drains that might have been affected in this area. I have also asked
that I receive a record of the cleansing that has taken place in
recent times.

I had a relatively recent experience of
a local authority who did not even know where all their drains were
and therefore were unable to provide this information. I am hopeful
that this will not be case in Crewkerne.

More widely, this does again open up
the debate about the building of new housing. What this flash flood
demonstrates is that we must be careful about the quantity and
location of any new housing we build across South Somerset. I would
urge local councillors, many of whom will have voters who have
suffered terribly in these floods, to look again at the plans they
make for new housing. Government targets and the need for affordable
housing is one thing, but building houses that makes the lives of
those who live here now intolerable will itself be unacceptable.