West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has called on the Prime Minister to join the efforts to re-build Tenbury Wells after another serious flood hit the town.

And the MP called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to ensure that money can be ringfenced in the Government’s £2.4 billion flood defence fund to deliver the permanent flood defence scheme being developed for the town.

Talks are already underway to re-build the collapsed wall in Market Street but Dame Harriett asked the Prime Minister to take the opportunity to fix the foundations by funding the already-designed flood defence scheme.

Dame Harriett said:

“During Prime Minister’s Questions, I took the opportunity to highlight the plight of Tenbury Wells after another devastating flood.

“Tenbury has been flooding ever since it was founded and it will flood again unless we can build these flood defences. This latest incident is even more devastating because a flood scheme is well advanced and part-funded.

“The Prime Minister was clearly aware both of the Tenbury flooding and the challenges flooding can present to communities as well of the complexities that property owners face recovering after a flood.

“Ever since I secured the money to fund the scheme, the cost of the defences has gone up and is now deemed unaffordable. The Tenbury scheme has a £60 million economic benefit, but it does once again have a budget shortfall.

“There is a £2.4 billion flood defences fund and I am hopeful that the various Ministers I have spoken to this week will be persuaded to lift the Tenbury scheme up the list of priorities.“