Gloucester MP Richard Graham has welcomed £100,000 of funding to boost a flood defence project in Gloucester announced on the week of the 10th anniversary of the Gloucester Floods.
Richard Graham said, “major flooding hit our county on 20th July 2007 impacting thousands of homes, this funding and other projects like it that have been carried out over the past 10 years are crucial in ensuring that we never again lose lives or homes to flooding.”
The project aims to benefit flood protection for over 1,000 homes in Abbeydale, Saintbridge and Upton St Leonards from potential flooding from the River Twyver. It flooded badly in 2007, in both Saintbridge and beside the Tredworth Cemetery. Richard said “further investment here, not least at the balancing and Saintbridge ponds, would be very welcome.”
Environment minister Thérèse Coffey said: “Flood defence technology and engineering is better than ever and this work should help protect families, homes and businesses from flooding, with environmental benefits to the wider area and people live in Gloucester.”
The funding is part of £15 million announced for natural flood management from central government. This allocation round saw 34 projects winning £1 million including £50,000 for the Twyver Catchment NFM project in Gloucester (£50,000 is contributed by partners of the scheme).