James Wild MP calls for a plan and investment to tackle flooding following issues affecting many villages in North West Norfolk.
North West Norfolk MP James Wild today called on ministers to ensure the Environment Agency holds Anglian Water to account to invest in improving its network following flooding this year.
James highlighted that for several months villages including the Burnhams, Creakes, and other parts of North West Norfolk suffered from flooding and sewage coming up through manhole covers due to water getting into the system.
This situation led to the Environment Agency having to license the pumping of water into the River Burn, one of England’s precious chalk streams.
Speaking in the House of Commons during Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs questions, James said:
“This year the Burnhams, Creakes, and other villages in North West Norfolk suffered flooding that resulted in sewage coming up through manhole covers due to water infiltrating the sewer system. Things got so bad this foul water had to be pumped into one of our precious chalk streams.
“Will the minister ensure that the Environment Agency holds Anglian Water to account to put in place plans and investment to ensure this doesn’t happen again?”
In response, Rebecca Pow MP, Environment Minister said:
“That is of course a scenario that no one wants to see repeated and I hope he knows I am championing his cause as is this government and tackling the harm caused by storm overflows in rivers, particularly chalk streams.
“This is a top priority for the government and that’s why we established the storm overflow taskforce made up of government, the water industry, regulators and environmental groups which has set a long term goal to eliminate harm from storm overflows.
“This group is considering the issues caused by infiltration and last month we did announce plans to introduce legislation to address these things.”
