£37m to be Spent on North East Flood Prevention.
More than £37m to be spent on North East flood prevention schemes over the next year. The sum is part of an £860m national investment, published in the coastal erosion investment plan on Thursday.
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle is reporting that in total, £37.6m is to be invested in more than 150 North East schemes in 2021/22.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the “record investment” would better protect 336,000 properties in the UK and reduce the national flood risk by up to 11% by 2027. It added the plan could help avoid up to £3.2 billion in economic damages.
It comes as severe flooding in European countries including Belgium, Germany and Italy has left hundreds dead.
Back home, roads and Tube stations were flooded in the south of England, and a flooded hospital in Whipps Cross, east London, was forced to cancel all surgery and outpatient appointments due to heavy rain.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “The tragic recent events in Germany and Belgium serve as a sobering reminder of how devastating flooding can be.
“It’s important we take action right across the system.
“Our comprehensive plan will achieve this by tightening planning procedures, helping more people access insurance and making homes more resilient to the effects of flooding.”
The Government added householders would also benefit from changes to the scheme allowing insurers to pay an additional amount for the installation of property protections such as air brick covers, flood-doors and flood-resistant plasterboard.