Last week I spoke briefly about the flooding seen in Fylde last Monday night. Since then, I have been visiting affected communities to meet with residents and it has been frankly heart-breaking to see the damage the floodwater has caused to homes and businesses.
For areas like Poulton Street in Kirkham, parts of Freckleton and Wesham as well as those living in and around the Ribby Roundabout between Kirkham and Wrea Green, this is all too familiar an experience, having seen similar flooding in the past. It is unacceptable that the same people should face recurrent worries about flooding every time we see extreme weather and I am beyond disappointed by the lack of engagement from the County Council, both with me and with residents.
While the response from the relevant authorities has demonstrated that they are not fit for purpose, it has become increasingly clear that Lancashire County Council, as Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFA), are the weak link in the chain. This needs to change and I have not only reiterated my request for a meeting but also expressed the need for this take place urgently.
I similarly remain worried about the recent sewage discharges along the Fylde Coast. The rupturing of what was a new pipe is clearly a cause for concern, piling pressure onto the rest of the sewage network and resulting in storm overflows being called into use far more than should be the case.
This is a serious issue and on Monday I visited Fleetwood to see the situation first hand, including an update on the repair efforts to repair the pipe and the work being done to minimise the need to use storm overflows. I am assured that United Utilities are committing the necessary funds and resources to ensure that this is achieved at the earliest opportunity however, until then, it is right that additional precautions are in place on our beaches.
To finish on a more positive note, recent months have seen fantastic progress on the Kirkham Futures Project, a scheme I fought throughout the various bidding stages and helped secure £13 million in funding for. However, this money will mean nothing if we do not see new businesses opening in the town and on Monday I was delighted to open Bang Bang a school uniform and clothing store, meeting with their team of staff to hear more about how the regeneration work is making the town a more attractive place for businesses and shoppers alike.
I was at Singleton Gala on Sunday, one of the many events of that mark Fylde’s busy gala and club day season, and what a wonderful afternoon it was with a great selection of food stalls and family fun for all in attendance. We are now very much in the height of the summer fete season, a key part of the Fylde’s rich sense of community, and I look forward to attending many more of these occasions over the course of the summer.