Facing up to flooding facts

Johnson must rise to challenge

THIS NEWSPAPER was prepared to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt – and take him at his word – when he caught up with South Yorkshire’s flooding victims during last year’s election campaign.

Having initially indicated that the disaster was not a national emergency, Boris Johnson promised to hold a flooding summit to ensure that lessons were learned, and measures put in place, to better protect the Don Valley in the future.

Seven months on, Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis – and others – are still trying to hold the PM, and his top team, to that commitment. Now they, like us, accept that the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic has changed everything and the entire focus of the Government.

But, given the importance of trust in politics, what is frustrating is the lack of urgency being shown by Defra and flooding Ministers to repeated requests for meetings – albeit remotely.

And, in many respects, the issue is even more urgent now than back in last November when Mr Johnson and his entourage visited Fishlake to make peace with those families, and businesses, who felt betrayed by the Government after losing everything.

Why? First, this region suffered even more catastrophic flooding in February this year when Storm Ciara devastated the Calder Valley and other parts of the county. The occupiers of many homes can no longer obtain insurance.

Second, Mr Jarvis contends, with reason, that “increasing and accelerating work on flood prevention” can help create jobs at a time when South Yorkshire is bracing itself for the loss of 14,000 businesses.

Finally, the threat from flooding will remain long after this country is rid of Covid-19. Investing in defences today will also cost far less than the expense of clearing up future floods if Ministers don’t act. Mr Johnson, the choice is yours.