MP for East Devon Simon Jupp writes for this title.

Major flash flooding hit East Devon last May. Newton Poppleford was worst affected as 63 properties suffered internal flooding. I have visited several residents to offer support and their stories are heart-breaking. Some spent months unable to live in their own homes.

Since last May, I have been working with the government to secure extra investment into flood management schemes in East Devon.

I spoke with Flooding Minister Robbie Moore MP about the significant impact May’s flooding had on local towns and villages, especially around the River Otter, during his recent visit to East Devon and pushed for progress on funding.

My pleas were heard! The government has now announced over £1.4 million of funding to help reduce flood risks along the River Otter and River Sid. 

The Otter Valley investment includes eight projects within the River Otter catchment. Given the intensive agriculture and sensitive habitats along the river, the projects focus on soil and land management. Where soil management is not possible, other options include leaky dams, woody flow spreaders, leaky outlet structures, attenuation ponds, swales, buffer strips, bund creation, cross drain installation, fencing improvements, floodplain reconnection, hedgerow creation, and planting of woodland. I understand there will be projects in Newton Poppleford, Harpford, Feniton & Gosford, Tipton St John, Venn Ottery, Colaton Raleigh, East Budleigh, and along the Furze Brook tributary on the outskirts of Ottery St Mary.

The Sid Valley investment includes four projects within the River Sid catchment. The projects focus on leaky barriers, soil and land management such as buffer strips, and targeted tree planting. The aim is to slow flood water and store it in the floodplain, therefore reducing the risk of flash flooding in Sidbury, Sidford, and Sidmouth.

I would like to thank the Environment Agency and the Sidbury Manor Estate for putting forward these excellent government funding bids for natural flood management projects, which I raised with government Ministers.

My focus will always be on getting things done for where we live – and working with local communities to bring that about.