Staffordshire residents 'sick and tired' of flooded homes - MP calls for better defences

Stafford’s Labour MP Leigh Ingham told Sir Keir during Prime Minister’s Questions that her constituents were ‘sick and tired’ of their homes and businesses being flooded.

Flooding has been a persistent problem in the Sandon Road area of Stafford – the latest incident coming earlier this month – and residents have been calling for flood defences on Sandyford Brook. Staffordshire County Council says it has been unable to secure funding from the Environment Agency for such a scheme.

Ms Ingham called on the government to prioritise flood defence investment in Stafford and other parts of her constituency – a cause which has cross-party support locally.

She said: “From Stafford to Eccleshall to Loggerheads, my constituents are sick and tired of having their properties and businesses devastated by flooding. The last Conservative government did not invest enough in flood prevention measures to stop this from happening.

“Can the Prime Minister assure me and my constituents that he will prioritise flood prevention investment before the homes and businesses on Sandon Road in Stafford disappear completely into Sandyford Brook.”

Sir Keir, who visited Stafford during last year’s general election campaign, reiterated the government’s announcement last year that it would be investing £2.4 billion on flood defences over two years. But he did not commit to any specific investment in Stafford.

He said: “My sympathies go to her constituents. Far too many are experiencing terrible flooding. I visited there last year and met them and they talked me through the misery of their experience.

“We inherited flood defences in their worst condition on record. We are now investing £2.4 billion in flood defences to better protect communities, and committed £60 million to support farmers impacted by the extreme weather.”