21 July 2021
Flood and Water Management

As part of my ongoing campaign work on flooding in Norfolk, I have written once again to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – this time to highlight that there needs to be a far more joined-up approach to water management for:

  1. Agriculture
  2. Housing
  3. Flood Prevention
George Freeman MP at Wymondham

While we must ensure that rivers are acknowledged as being ecosystems that need to be protected and supported, we must not forget that, if we are to truly tackle the flooding problems that have been becoming increasingly common and make sure farmers have the water they need to effectively carry out their jobs, rivers are fundamentally first and foremost natural drainage (and water management) systems.

That’s why I have asked the Secretary of State what efforts can be undertaken to empower local bodies like Water Resources East and the Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Board, who already do stellar work and fully understand and appreciate all of the complexities to this issue.

With their expertise and local knowledge, bodies like these are valuable assets as we push for a far more effective, joined-up approach – and I look forward to working with them and partners, like Norfolk County Council and Anglian Water, as we seek to try and make sure the awful flooding we have seen is relegated to the past.