Environment Secretary Hilary Benn meets anti-flood campaigners in Frankley

Oct 10 2009 by Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Hilary Benn has visited a Birmingham neighbourhood hit with severe floods a year ago.

Earlier this year, Mr Benn announced the first round of grants under a £5 million scheme to help people protect their homes against flooding – including £153,900 to protect homes in the most affected areas of Frankley.

During the visit Mr Benn and Richard Burden, the Labour MP for Northfield, met with community leaders including residents’ flood-defence pioneer Norma Boyd.

Mr Benn said: “This has been a great opportunity to see how the flood protection grant is making a real difference to the local people in the Frankley area by making homes more resilient and protected from the damage and destruction that floods can sometimes cause.”

During the visit, Mr Benn was shown the importance of good community organisation in effective flood prevention and response. He said: “Frankley residents were hit hard a year ago. I was very pleased that the Secretary of State was able to see the area for himself and hear first hand the problems people faced.

“He met Norma Boyd whose Flood Action Group in the Middlemore Road area of Northfield has pioneered residents’ involvement in flood defence.

“The earmarking of over £150,000 of government money is a real help in protecting some of the most vulnerable properties in Frankley in the future.

“It is important to remember that the impact of climate change means that floods will be more, not less, likely in the years to come.”