KEETCH DISCUSSES FLOOD PLAN WITH MINISTER

2.41.07pm GMT Thu 4th Nov 2004

Hereford's MP Paul Keetch has discussed the proposed Hereford Flood Defence scheme with Environment Minister, Elliot Morley. Last year Mr Keetch took a delegation from the local flood defence campaign to meet the Minister, and now Mr Keetch says there is continuing progress on the scheme.

"I was delighted to be able to discuss the scheme again with the Minister in Westminster", said Mr Keetch.

"He told me that his understanding was that the scheme for the Belmont bank of the river appeared to meet Environment Agency requirements on their scoring scheme, and that an assessment of this bank and the Cathedral bank was expected soon. If this too passes the requirements then it would only be a matter for the local Flood Committee to make an application via the Environment Agency before the Government would consider the plan.

"There are Government funds available for flood defence and the Minister was hopeful that this scheme would get a sufficiently high rating to get approval, but much depends on the Environment Agency. I will be meeting officers from the Agency soon to progress this. The sooner they make the application, the sooner we will know if the funding is available, and then hopefully the sooner the scheme can be built."