WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has urged the Environment Agency to speed up work on property-level flood protection in Tenbury Wells after the town council was refused flood insurance cover.
From next month, Zurich will withdraw its flood cover, leaving the Pump Rooms and Regal Cinema without insurance.
Dame Harriett said she had pressed Zurich to reconsider, pointing out that the collapsed flood wall responsible for previous damage at the Pump Rooms has since been rebuilt. She feels ‘there is no real change in the circumstances’ to validate Zurich’s decision. She is awaiting a response from Zurich and has raised Tenbury’s case in Treasury Select Committee and with relevant ministers.
The MP said it now up to the Environment Agency to protect the town from flooding.
In March, the Environment Agency paused plans for a wider flood defence scheme but pledged to fund individual property protection measures, including the town council’s civic buildings.
Consultants have now been appointed to survey affected sites, but progress has been delayed.
She added: “The pressure is now on the Environment Agency to deliver on its pledge to the town to provide specific flood protection schemes for each property which qualifies.”
“Now the Bewdley flood scheme is complete, we know the Environment Agency has the capacity to turn its attention to Tenbury Wells.”
