Wainfleet: a ‘stark reminder’ for investment needed in flood defences

The devastation in Wainfleet is a “stark reminder” that flood defences need to be invested in, says a senior Lincolnshire county councillor.

Councillor Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place, said he was “determined” to solve some of the infrastructure problems around rivers in the county.

An independent investigation is currently being led by Norfolk County Council into the flooding in Wainfleet and is expected to be completed in November.

Almost 600 homes were evacuated in the town when the River Steeping to burst its banks on June 12.

Councillor Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place at Lincolnshire County Council. Picture: Calvin Robinson.

Councillor Davie said further investment was needed and that the government needed “long term solutions” to challenges being caused by climate change.

“I would say that with the incident there [Wainfleet] and at Whaley Bridge and other storm issues around the country this summer, it’s a stark reminder that we need to keep investing in infrastructure,” he said.

“A lot of the flood defences around our country, particularly internally on rivers, need investment and I’m very determined to make sure that every year we solve some of those problems in Lincolnshire.”

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced funding for residents and businesses in the town earlier this month.

People made desperate attempts to save their homes. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

As part of the Bellwin fund, a total of £5.25 million in relief funding was made available to both Wainfleet and Whaley Bridge.

East Lindsey District Council will also be able to claim back money spent on flood responses in Wainfleet.

An equivalent of around two months’ worth of rainfall fell in two days in the town, leaving around 1,000 people out of their homes.

MP for Boston and Skegness Matt Warman addresses the crowd at Coronation Hall, in Wainfleet. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Boston and Skegness MP, Matt Warman, apologised to residents at a local meeting following the flooding and said “Government exists to prevent the kind of flooding we saw”.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

RAF helicopters costing nearly £1 million were drafted in to drop bags of ballast to fill a breach in the riverbank.

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