Petition to Stop The Floods after severe flooding in East Anglia

More than 1,500 people across the UK have signed a businessman’s petition calling for government funding to protect East Anglia from future flooding.

Ross Taylor, whose father started the campaign 20 years ago, was inspired to take Stop The Floods national following his father’s death and the flooding of his business in December.

The petition is calling for the Environment Agency to invest in maintenance and improvements to the drainage infrastructure surrounding the tidal River Great Ouse Hundred Foot River, which reaches from Earith to Denver.

Mr Taylor, owner of Buffaload Logistics and Corkers Crisps, said: “On December 23, my premises was severely flooded which shut down the business. A lot of people were washed out of their homes and that’s not to mention the farmers with flooding across their land.

“It’s a big concern, especially after so much heavy rain. The main problem is the river which is already full to capacity. The main arteries for the whole of East Anglia are blocked.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We know the devastating impact that flooding can have, which is why protecting people and communities is our top priority.

“Nationally we’ve spent £2.6 billion over the past six years, delivering more than 1,500 projects to better protect 300,000 homes in England, including more than 123,000 properties in East Anglia alone.

“This investment will be doubled to a record £5.2 billion between 2021-27, creating around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences to better protect 336,000 properties.

“Unfortunately, the climate emergency means we cannot prevent all flooding – so we’re working with communities to improve their resilience to future flooding”.

Mr Taylor said: “This affects everyone from King’s Lynn to Huntingdon, and the whole of East Anglia."

You can sign at: https://petition.parliament.uk