West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has toured Kempsey to meet with villagers whose properties were damaged by flooding last week. The MP was given a briefing by the Environment Agency ahead of a formal investigation surrounding the events which led to the floods returning to the village. The flood defences have been called into action twice since they were completed in the summer. Environment Secretary Owen Patterson has asked to see the report into the causes of the Kempsey flooding. Harriett commented: “The Environment Agency has commission a respected engineering consultancy to investigate the events and has asked flood campaigner Mary Dhonau to gather evidence from local people. “We know that the Hatfield Brook and the Severn reached a peak at the same time on Sunday and we need to discover why the pump or pumps failed. “Where households have contents insurance, their first call should be to their insurance companies to start the process of making claims. “My office will help to make sure insurance companies move as swiftly as possible if we hear reports of delays. “There is also a high level of uninsured loss, and each of these cases needs to be considered on a case by case basis. Again, I encourage any constituents in this category to contact me so that I can see if I can arrange help.” “The report findings are due next month and once the conclusions are known it will be clearer if there was a specific cause of whether it is “force majeure”. “Meanwhile, I want to offer my thanks to all the people of Kempsey who helped evacuate families early last Sunday morning, the Fire Brigade and the Environment Agency staff who have worked tirelessly since then to assist the community.” Photo: (l-r) Councillor David Harrison, Harriett Baldwin MP, Dafydd Evans, Environment Agency regional director