West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin today confirmed she is planning to hold a summit to identify funding for permanent flood defences in Tenbury. The MP met with representatives from Malvern Hills District Council last week to discuss the issue and she agreed to work with the council to host a meeting to find solutions for this longstanding problem. Last week, Harriett wrote to the Environment Agency to attempt to secure funding for permanent flood defences to protect Tenbury. The Agency has confirmed that the town’s proposed flood scheme will need funding of nearly £5 million but the Government has announced a further £120 million of funding with £60 million being earmarked for so-called ‘shovel-ready schemes like Tenbury’s. Harriett commented: “I have kept the pressure up to make sure Tenbury is not forgotten. I have ensured that £9 million has been spent on flood defences across my constituency and it is time to re-argue Tenbury’s case. “Following my meeting with the district council, it is clear that there is some impetus to try and fix this oversight and I hope that we will all be able to work together to find funding solutions to give the town permanent flood defences. ”I will try to get the Environment Agency, the district and county council and other parties around a table next month to see what national money can be found together with combined local authority funds. “There is a lot of money to be found, but all the parties are ready to resume the campaign.”