WET OUTLOOK
Is flood cash ebbing away?
Plans for a multimillion-pound investment into flood defences may be ebbing away, despite the government pledging £17 million.
Nick Clegg visited Yalding to announced good news on Tuesday that Kent County Council would match the figure.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the schemes should be in place by 2020, but it turns out KCC does not have the money.
Its leader, Cllr Paul Carter, said on Wednesday that it could take 15 years to raise the funds and flood-hit residents and businesses may see their taxes go up.
He said: “In order to enable these schemes to get under way as soon as possible, we now have to look at ways of finding this money over the next 10 to 15 years.
“I have always maintained that the funding needs to be raised partly by means of a precept on houses and also commercial rates in the areas most at risk of flooding.
“We will also look at a developer contribution from new houses built in the area.”
He also pledged to look at grants, adding KCC would do everything to make sure schemes progressed as quickly as possible.
Cash is needed to expand the Leigh Barrier by one metre and create a flood storage area on the River Beult. These would give more protection to Tonbridge and Yalding.
In February, Cllr Carter wrote to Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, promising the council would find the same amount pledged by the government.
On Tuesday Mr Clegg said: “I am here to confirm the government’s commitment to provide 50% of the costs for the two flood defence schemes. There’s £17 million from the county council and £17 million from central government.”
But the step backwards upset Geraldine Brown, chairman of Yalding Parish Council.
She said: “It is very disappointing. We need the money and we have got to get it.”
Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, said: “Kent County Council gave a clear commitment to find 50% of the implementation costs for both proposed flood defence schemes.
“I remain confident that they will honour this.”
Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Jasper Gerard added his party had honoured the bargain – now it was up to the Conservatives.