Flooding pumps are to be kept ON
PUMPING stations used to prevent flooding in West Lancashire and Southport will no longer be switched off next month as planned.
The Environment Agency (EA) has now promised to keep the Alt Crossens pumps in use for at least two more years.
The pumps in question are based at Banks Marsh, Boundary Brook, Kew, Rufford Causeway and Clay Brow and are used to drain large parts of the surrounding areas of flood water.
The agency originally announced in 2015 that it would stop funding the pumps within two years with hopes that other organisations or groups may take over. However, those plans were held up by legislative problems which prevented the formation of a local water management board.
As a result, the EA, which says that residential properties would not face increased risk of flooding if the pumps are switched off, had agreed to keep them in use until March of this year. It has now committed to a further two years.
Flooding has caused huge problems across the region in recent years, with homes, businesses and farms all suffering as a result.
The agency believes that the best long-term solution for water level management will involve a joint decision by all the organisations and individuals involved, saying it is committed to strengthening local decision-making on flood risk management.
A spokesman added that maintenance activities are prioritised based on flood risk to people and property.
Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has repeatedly called for the pumps to remain in use and welcomed the extension.
She said: “Just in the past month, West Lancashire
has suffered widespread and repeated flooding, which would undoubtedly would have been a lot worse if the pumps had been switched off.
“Switching off the pumps would mean that West Lancashire was to be left as marshland, which would never have been acceptable, so the extension is very good news.
“This extension will give much-needed time for the Environment Bill to pass through Parliament and eventually allow for the creation of an Internal Drainage Board in West Lancashire, which will be essential in preventing future flooding.”
A spokesperson at the EA said: “We are committed to working on finding new ways to manage water levels for the economy, environment and community in Alt Crossens.
“We have supported the extension of the current notices to continue to operate the pumps.”