Over the past few months, I have been busy pressing for action following the flooding many endured because of Storm Babet. It is clear from the state of neglect of our watercourses, ditches, and roads that the Environment Agency, Drainage Board, and Suffolk County Council need to deliver a comprehensive strategy to clean up our environment and make the necessary repairs to ensure our infrastructure can withstand further instances of flooding.

On 15 March 2024, I met with the Environment Agency. While they are doing all they can to mitigate future instances of flooding, I believe they do not have the manpower or money to provide a comprehensive strategy. Although adopting a targeted approach, focused on flood resilience for individual properties, will hopefully prevent some instances next time around, the cold reality remains that our authorities and agencies, starved of support and resources, cannot adopt a ‘from source to sea’ approach, to clean up our rivers and build the infrastructure required to hold excess water.

My message is simple: we cannot be complacent. Whether flooding is a 1 in 100 or 1 in 1000-year probability is besides the point. Homes and livelihoods have been impacted. One flood is one too many. Residents need reassurance that we are learning the lessons from Storm Babet and taking steps to prevent it from happening in the future.

Sadly, I remain unconvinced that the Environment Agency has the desire to clean our rivers and make the changes we sorely need. I also remain unconvinced that Suffolk County Council will radically improve efforts to repair our roads and fill in potholes. The flooding has exacerbated the state of highway disrepair, and our roads are becoming more dangerous.

I will continue to call for action, for local authorities and organisations to work together and give taxpayers their money’s worth. I also want local government and the Environment Agency to empower farmers and residents to have more control over their land. Our local farmers and landowners have in many places dug out ditches and helped to channel the water, but they remain hamstrung by confusing and counter-productive regulations imposed by the authorities. The fear of invoking penalties for clearing some watercourses is hindering a common-sense approach and fathoming riparian rights has become a headache. The land remains sodden, and I fear it won’t take much for our communities to flood again.

In the long-term, I will be calling for greater investment in our water and drainage infrastructure. We need to radically overhaul how we do things – this includes how we plan housing developments. Every step must be taken to avoid further flooding in the future. Over the past few months I have been visiting parishes to understand the extent of the challenge and I will continue to visit residents in the coming months. I will continue to advocate on behalf of you and will be not cease until we see a serious strategy for Suffolk.

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