November is birthday month in the Brine household and, fun as it unquestionably is, any fellow parent of very young children will know why Susie and I cling onto the briefest respite before the Christmas list campaign begins. Whatever I do this year, something tells me loom bands will feature heavily.
There is of course, a lot of work to be done between then and now and for me that included leading an important debate in the House of Commons on a subject close to our hearts in Winchester, flooding. As I look back at 2014, it was definitely one of the major events of the year and is something I remain determined we will learn from.
My ‘Winter Flooding Preparation’ debate followed on from my speech in the House earlier this year and was not solely to moan and highlight the things which went wrong. It is a fact that the response from local authorities and agencies in Winchester back in February was highly effective and is being studied by many other parts of the country. That of course includes the innovative ‘restriction’ placed upstream of the city in the River Itchen by the Environment Agency which saved around 100 homes in the Water Lane/Park Avenue area from almost certain flooding.
The main purpose of my calling the debate however, was to press Ministers for further reform of the Repair and Renewal Grant (RRG) and to highlight a new funding idea which is essential for this area if we are to see tangible flood resilience work undertaken.
I and many of my constituents saw personally this year the devastating impact groundwater flooding had in villages such as Kings Worthy, Headbourne Worthy, Littleton and Hursley. I am therefore working really hard to explain to Government the wider socio-economic case which I believe should be taken in account when deciding which areas will receive funding for future flood works.
Working alongside the increasingly impressive leader of Hampshire County Council, I am pushing the ‘pathfinder’ proposal at every opportunity. It seeks to create a new £4m devolved funding pot through DEFRA to fund improvements in some of the worst hit places, where groundwater is the enemy.
Why does this matter and what is the distinction? Because the current national funding methodology only really looks at the number of properties protected from actual flooding and we will always lose out under that measure when compared with, say, the Somerset levels. I think better management of groundwater flood risk at local level would better quantify impacts such as road closures, disruption to local businesses, deliveries, access to services or education, and normal life in general.
That is what ‘pathfinder’ is all about and it’s encouraging DEFRA and, as a result of my introducing it to the Chancellor, the Treasury, are looking at in detail. I think my constituents know I will not be letting this one drop.
Finally, I want to wish all our retailers and businesses a bumper Christmas period. Attending the launch of the ice rink and Cathedral Christmas Market last Friday I am in no doubt Winchester is THE Christmas city. The website christmasinwinchester.co.uk is, I am told, receiving record numbers of hits. Indeed, I’ve lost count of the number of my fellow MPs who tell me they’ve already purchased tickets to hit the ice on what must be one of the most stunning rinks in the world.
As this is my last column of the year, may I wish all Hampshire Chronicle readers a peaceful Christmas and a successful new year.
Steve Brine MP
