MP Layla Moran called on the Government to fund an Abingdon flood scheme warning that “the climate emergency must not be forgotten.”

The Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, wrote to the Minister responsible responsible for flooding, calling on her to “reconsider the Abingdon Flood Alleviation Scheme”.

The Abingdon Flood Alleviation Scheme did not go ahead previously due to increased cost projections from the Environment Agency. Ms Moran said residents “felt ignored and overlooked”.

After sending the letter, Layla Moran said: “Flooding is about the human cost, not just the economic cost, and the events of the last few weeks remind us that major problems on the scale of 2007 are more and more likely. The climate emergency must not be forgotten.

“With Local Plans in place that will deliver thousands of additional houses, we need to be investing now to keep new and existing homes safe. Residents deserve better, and the deserve to be listened to.

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“So I’m calling on the Government to reconsider the Abingdon flood scheme and work with our local councils and resident groups to make it happen. And if funding won’t be made available, they need to set out why this isn’t a priority.”

Torrential rain on Boxing Day caused the banks of the River Thames to burst in Abingdon leaving the towpaths completely flooded. The emergency services were dispatched to several flooded households.

The Boxing Day floods even spread to Rye Farm Car Park where a car was abandoned in flood water.

This winter Oxford also experienced flooding and the council urged people to avoid the towpaths because the flood water makes it impossible to determine where the edge of the towpath is. Oxford has previously had fatal incidents as a result of people trying to use flooded towpaths.

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