MP promises to tackle flooding in Cotswolds (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

MP promises to tackle flooding in Cotswolds

9:30am Monday 28th January 2013 in News By Laura Shack

Cotswolds MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (right) and Gloucestershire county councillor Shaun Parsons (left) discuss the flooding with angry resident Geoff Reeves

A COTSWOLD MP has pledged to pin authorities down on what action they will take to prevent future flooding in the district.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP took to the streets of South Cerney on Friday, at the invitation of Gloucestershire county councillor Shaun Parsons and Cotswold district councillor Clive Bennett, to visit some of the worst affected areas for river and sewage flooding.

Wooden boards, sandbags and home dug trenches still surround many properties in The Limes and Boxbush Road, where many residents were flooded twice over in last year’s record rainfall.

At Boxbush Road, 69-year-old Bromford Housing tenant Geoff Reeves showed Mr Clifton-Brown his conservatory which had been flooded by around seven inches of floodwater.

"I’m in sheltered accommodation. I’ve had three heart attacks and I’m still recovering from the stroke I had in June," Mr Reeves said. "Bromford have a duty of care and I pay for a full-time scheme manager, but nobody’s been in touch - I’ve had nothing. It’s been an absolute nightmare."

Mr Reeves also dismissed the housing association’s claim in last week’s Standard, that temporary accommodation had been offered to all residents and had been in contact since Christmas Eve.

A Bromford spokesman said that someone had visited Mr Reeves' home to offer alternative accommodation but he was unavailable.

The spokesman added: "At the time we provided emergency flood defences to ensure houses were protected and we have since returned to enhance these defences."

Mr Clifton-Brown told the Standard: "As a result of my visits I will be taking up the various issues with Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Bromford.

"I want to find out what action they took and how quickly they reacted, but much more important is what can be done in the future."

Now, Mr Clifton-Brown plans to bring councils, EA and Thames Water together for a meeting in March, at which he will demand that the authorities publicly set out an action plan to help prevent future flooding and sewage problems.