Hendry plea for flood aid

Wealden MP Charles Hendry has written to the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, asking for EU funds to be made available for flood prevention measures in Uckfield and Lewes.

Wealden MP Charles Hendry has written to the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, asking for EU funds to be made available for flood prevention measures in Uckfield and Lewes.

His letter was sent after news that the EU is to make funds available for those countries in Central Europe which have suffered such damage in floods over the last two weeks.

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Mr Hendry was recently given an undertaking by Environment Minister Elliot Morley that the UK is not eligible for EU funds, in spite of an earlier statement from the European Commission that suggested that it could be.

Mr Hendry commented: 'Our hearts go out to the people in Hungary and the Czech Republic, where we have seen such terrible flooding over the past fortnight. It is encouraging that the European Union is in a position to make funds available to help repair the damage that has been done.

'If it can be done for countries which are not in the EU, then surely it can also be done for countries which are not only members, but also pay enormous sums every year to help fund the EU, in the way that the UK does.

'I have written to Dr Prodi asking him to make European funds available for communities like Uckfield and Lewes, which suffered so much damage two years ago and where European funds could help bring forward flood prevention methods to stop such devastation being caused again.

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'I have no objection to help being given to countries which have suffered so much from flooding recently. All I am asking is that countries like the UK, which are actually members of the European Union, should receive support to protect us against flooding as well.'

Mr Hendry also confirmed that he has secured dates for meetings with both the Environment Agency (September 4) and with the Environment Minister, Elliot Morley (October 22), to object to the Environment Agency's decision not to propose any significant flood prevention plans for Uckfield and the surrounding villages.

Mr Hendry adds: 'Although the meeting is some way off, it will enable us to prepare the strongest possible case to put to the Minister, to push for the Environment Agency to be told to think again and come up with plans which actually address the problem.'

Letter page six, comment page seven