Nottinghamshire County Council Conservatives call for ‘fair deal’ for flood-hit communities

A motion calling for a “fairer deal for flood-hit communities” is to be debated by county councillors tomorrow (September 18).

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Conservative group have put forward the motion ahead of the full council meeting, calling on the authority to write to the Government’s Minister for Flooding, the East Midlands Mayor, and all Nottinghamshire MPs on the issue.

Mike Introna will present the motion, and encourage the council to press these officials for; more resources for flood prevention schemes, a ‘fairer formula’ for allocating flood defence funding, and more recognition of local knowledge and practical solutions.

The opposition group state the number of homes at risk is expected to rise in the years ahead, and currently areas like Retford, Worksop, Stoke Bardolph, Farndon, Burton Joyce, Lowdham and other smaller communities risk being left behind because property values are lower than in other parts of the country.

They also want to see residents and community groups able to feed into decision-making alongside engineers and consultants.

Mr Introna said: “Flooding doesn’t care where you live, how much your house is worth, or how you vote. Yet the current system leaves places like Retford and Worksop at a permanent disadvantage. Families who have been flooded time and time again feel abandoned, and that has to change.

“We’re asking for common sense, fairness, and proper investment. Our residents deserve the same chance to stay safe and secure as anyone else in the country.”

Mike Adams is seconding the motion. He added: “I have worked alongside our fantastic flooding team at Nottinghamshire County Council throughout my first four years, and now into my fifth. Together, we have delivered changes in the upper catchment, introduced leaky dams, and worked to remodel waterways to better manage water flows.

“It is clear to me that we need significant investment. Without fairer funding, our hands are tied when it comes to tackling the more severe issues across our network. Our residents need us to fight for them — to protect their homes — we are answering that call and demanding fairer funding.”

Nottinghamshire has recieved just over £3,200 of flood defence investment per property at risk, compared to over £12,000 in some other regions, the group stated.