With thousands of families in the UK enduring utter devastation over recent days on account of extreme flooding, Leeds councillor, Judith Blake, has raised question over the existence of a possible north-south divide when it comes to flood prevention schemes.
Assessing the damage caused to Leeds and surrounding areas by the river Aire in recent days, Judith insisted it was a ‘preventable disaster’ and called on the government to act accordingly.
While reflecting on the impact the flooding has had on homes and businesses across the North over the festive season, the councillor lamented the scrapping of a flood prevention scheme for the city over four years ago.
Commenting on the government’s decision to scrap the scheme in 2011, Ms. Blake insists “There are some very serious questions for Government to answer on this.”
Insistent that significant investment needs to be made, she said: “We'll be putting as much pressure on as possible to redress the balance and get the funding situation equalised so the North get its fair share.”
Suggesting that there exists a perceived north-south divide when it comes to the issue, Ms. Blake explained that residents were growing increasingly disillusioned as the days wear on.
"I think there's a real anger growing across the North about the fact that the cuts have been made to the flood defences,” she revealed.
Determined the issue will be given the highest priority as soon as possible, she asserted: “We'll be having those conversations as soon as we are sure that people are safe and that we start the clean-up process and really begin the assess the scale of the damage.”
