BRIDGE BUILT OVER SEVERN AND VYRNWY FLOODING PROPOSAL - ÖPIK

11.37.29am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 23rd Jul 2008

Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, met this afternoon (Monday) with the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the Environment Agency's plans to deliberately flood areas along the Rivers Severn and Vyrnwy through Policy 6 of the River Severn Catchment Flood Management Plan.

Paul Murphy MP, agreed to contact the Environment Agency, both in England and Wales, to address the lack of consultation time, the effects on cross-border agriculture, and to look into alternative options in solving the flooding problem in the Severn area.

Commenting on the meeting, Lembit Opik said:

"Paul Murphy is one of the most action orientated Ministers in Government and once again he lived up to expectations. In a frank and concise meeting we covered all our points and found a receptive ear from the Secretary of State. The three agreed action points are what we were hoping for and as a result we at last have a route map towards a more considered approach than the random flooding of large parts of the England/Wales border. I'm looking forward to actionable conclusions in the months ahead."

Councillor Graham Brown commented:

"The meeting was very useful and the Minister took on board the concerns expressed to him about the consultation period and the proposals for the Upper Severn and confluence areas, and we look forward to working with him on this issue."

Peter Hendry, a local resident in the area that would be adversely affected by the proposals said:

"The Minister seemed to clearly understand the concerns of the people who would be adversely affected by the proposed increased frequency of flooding in the area. I was greatly encouraged by the fact that he was open to spend time in pursuing other options to alleviate flooding problems in other areas."