A local MP has urged the Government to listen to Lichfield’s farmers to help reduce the risk of flooding in the area.
Christopher Pincher made his comments while discussing how parts of the country currently under water could move forward.
Christopher Pincher
“The River Mease in my constituency has regularly flooded near Elford, Haunton and Harlaston, partly because the Environment Agency, with other agencies, has refused to allow farmers to clear and manage their watercourses,” the Conservative MP said.
“May I echo others by asking the practitioners of conventional orthodoxy to pay close attention to the concerns and advice of farmers, who are as expert at managing their fields and watercourses as anyone in the Environment Agency.”
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles insisted local knowledge had been utilised.
“We have looked to farmers and those in similar professions to help us out during this whole process and their local knowledge has often made the difference,” he said.
“As I have said from the Dispatch Box, the Environment Secretary believes in that principle passionately.”
Mr Pincher said he hoped that all voices would be heard in order to learn the lessons from the recent flooding.
“The floods are devastating and our own area has also suffered its own bout of flooding, most recently in 2007 when Elford and Fazeley were flooded,” he added. “But farmland is especially vulnerable.
“I have been working with local farmers to see how the current situation can be mitigated but also how to prevent further flooding.
“We do need to listen carefully to local farmers who know how to look after their land. Of course we need input from other groups too, such as the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, but farmers must be asked their advice on how best to look after our rivers and flood plains.”