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Norfolk and Suffolk floods prompt concerns over future risks

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Wensum valley in NorfolkShaun Whitmore/BBC
Wensum Valley in Norfolk was among the areas affected by flooding

After devastating floods in parts of Suffolk and Norfolk, concerns have been raised about managing the future risks in the region.

A major incident was declared in Suffolk on Friday during Storm Babet after a deluge of heavy rain hit roads, homes and businesses.

The co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay, called for flood defences to be improved.

The Environment Agency (EA) said investment had been made.

Mr Ramsay, who is also the parliamentary candidate for the Waveney Valley constituency on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, said a reassessment of planning rules was needed.

Green Party Adrian Ramsay with local councillor Lucy Elkin standing in flood waterGreen Party
Adrian Ramsay, pictured with Green Party Babergh district councillor Lucy Elkin, says more needs to be done

Mr Ramsay said: "The government is failing appallingly when it comes to flood risk management.

"We urgently need a long-term plan to improve natural flood defences and reassess planning regulations which will still allow for new building on flood plains."

Network Rail Flooded railway lines near StowmarketNetwork Rail
Railway lines in Suffolk were flooded during Storm Babet causing massive disruption over the weekend

Henry Cator, chairman of the Norfolk Resilience Forum - which is a group made up of emergency services and local council personnel - said maintaining existing flood defences was key.

"Maintenance is the simple answer but sadly it is not where the investment tends to go," he said,

Asked if there was enough preparation for future flooding he said: "I don't believe so, no. I think we have got to do a lot more."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Great Yarmouth flood defencesShaun Whitmore/BBC
The Environment Agency says it has invested in flood defences, including in Great Yarmouth

The EA said it was delivering £5.2bn of investment nationally "to protect hundreds of thousands of properties" and had several flood defence projects either completed or under way in the east of England.

This included ongoing coastal work in Essex at Canvey Island and Cockett Wick, near Clacton-on-Sea, as well as a recently completed £42.9m project in Great Yarmouth, the agency said.

A spokesperson added: "Over recent days we have seen extremely high levels of rain which have fallen on already saturated ground across the region.

"In some areas more than a month's worth of rain fell in a short period of time."

It said there was a strategy to prepare for more extreme weather in the future.

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