Exclusive: Key flood defence schemes at risk from cuts

As the three-year anniversary approaches of the catastrophic summer floods which left four people dead and devastated communities throughout the region, fears are growing major flood defence schemes could be next on the coalition Government's cost-cutting hit-list.

These include the planned 150m city defence scheme for Leeds – the most expensive flood defence project in the country – which has yet to be signed off by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The Environment Agency has confirmed it is locked in high-level talks with Defra over where cuts in future budgets can be made, with new Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman having refused to ring-fence spending on flood defences.

Both parties say no final decisions have yet been made but with the new Government already showing its willingness to swing the axe, and a raft of major programmes controversially ditched last week – including an 80m loan to Sheffield Forgemasters – it is clear all uncommitted spending plans could be at risk.

Coun Arthur Barker, the newly-appointed chairman of Yorkshire's Regional Flood Defence Committee, said he was aware of ongoing negotiations between environment officials and his committee would do all it could to safeguard schemes in Yorkshire.

"He said: "I can't put a high enough emphasis on the importance of it. The region is one of the most susceptible to flooding in the country and we need to continue with the flood programmes we have worked on.

"Any cut at all would be a matter for concern... but the bigger the cuts the more impact it will have."

Work began this year on several high-profile flood defence projects in areas badly hit in 2007, including a 14m scheme in Ripon and a 3m one in the East Riding.

But a raft of future projects, such as the scheme to protect Leeds from catastrophic river flooding, have yet to be signed off by the Government. The Leeds scheme would involve installing defences along a 13-mile stretch of the River Aire to protect it from a one-in-200-year flooding event which would paralyse the city and cause 400m damage.

Leeds Council's cabinet member for environmental services, Tom Murray, said: "It would be very short-sighted to cut this scheme. Of course it's a lot of money – that's because we're a big city with a lot of residents. You've got to spend the money now to save later."

York Council leader Andrew Waller, who holds the finance brief for the regional flood defence committee, agreed it was imperative flood defence spending was maintained.

"What I expect to happen is a review of the programme," he said. "Leeds is such a large scheme and the sums of money required are such that these sorts of decisions can only be made at a national level."

The Environment Agency has already been asked to cut 30m from its flood defence budget this year. Defra said this money had been found through efficiency savings and spending this year on front-line projects would be unaffected.

But a Defra spokesman also made it clear there could be no firm commitment about future years' budgets. "The (30m) savings represent efficiencies in our flood management. The Environment Agency is still on course to provide protection to 160,000 households – more than the 145,000 target. Their target will not be affected by these savings.

"We will therefore maintain an increase in the money taxpayers spend on flood defences this year, with no impact on the number of households that we protect.

"The Government's spending review, due to conclude in the autumn, will set spending limits for every Government department for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. It would be inappropriate to speculate on further efficiencies needed to address the deficit before publication of the spending review."

Comment: Page 10.