Rochdale near miss set to introduce flooding bill?

12.00.00am GMT Wed 20th Feb 2008

Paul Rowen MP will today be raising flooding issues in Rochdale in a debate at Westminster Hall. The adjournment debate is a short half hour debate that is introduced by a backbencher at the end of each day's business in the House of Commons. Mr Rowen will be mentioning the recently flooding problems in areas like Littleborough, Central Rochdale, Milnrow and others.

The debate comes just weeks after a spate of flooding issues in the Borough, including staff in town centre offices and our six form college had to be evacuated due to dangerously high levels on the River Roch.

Now Mr Rowen is set to use Rochdale's experience to try and introduce a national flood bill, which would put an end to the confusion by outlining the responsibilities of each organisation involved in emergency procedures. Mr Rowen will kick start the debate which will also be attended by the Minister for Flooding, Phil Woolas MP.

Mr Rowen said: "There is a great need, particularly with climate change to review the country's flood defence policy and plans. Our view is that we need to have a new flooding bill which sets out very clearly what each organisation's responsibilities are in the event of a flood. There are too many times that various organisations wash their hands of responsibility. There was the recent example on the junction of Mellor Street and Bury Road. This led to direct intervention from the Environment Agency.

Mr Rowen added: "What happened here was very nearly as bad as what happened in Doncaster and Hull last year, we just got lucky. I don't want to see a repeat of this - that is why urgent action is imperative as the Roch was inches from bursting its banks and flooding our town centre. But people were ringing the council and being put through to different departments and being given conflicting advice because the council do not have a plan in place.

"But this is not just a Rochdale problem, it is a national issue. I hope we can use our near miss to get things moving. I welcome the proactive stance that our Council are already making by committing to clean every gully over the next year. That is a welcome start but I want to see better protection and hope that this debate kick starts this."