Lembit Opik visits Cottingham Flood victims one year on

5.15.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 18th Jun 2008

"No other MP has been to visit us except Lembit," said Cottingham flood victim

"You are the only MP who has been to see us," said a Cottingham resident from Victoria's Way when Lembit Opik, Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Housing, visited one of the worst scenes of last year's flooding in Cottingham. Lembit listened attentively to every account of how local residents had suffered in the flooding and during the restoration work, which is some cases is still ongoing.

After spending the day (12 06 08)in Hull being shown around the various housing projects which are transforming the lives of many in the city, Lembit met Cottingham Lib Dem councillors, Katrin McClure & Win Knight, H & H Lib Dem PPC David Nolan and flooded residents at Victoria's Way. At this point surface water draining from Cottingham passes through a grill into a covered culvert to flow in to Hull's sewage system. It is also an area where the Environment Agency, Yorkshire water, the East Riding Council & Hull City Council all have some kind of responsibility for dealing with the water. This number of separate authorities spells disaster for producing a workable solution to any future flooding problems.

"We are terrified every time it rains heavily for more than half an hour," said one resident. "We have taken to clearing the grill of debris during any serious downpour so that it does not suffer a blockage and cause a flood. But then the Fire Brigade told us not to do it because it might put our lives in danger. What are we to do? We can't sit back and do nothing."

Lembit told the residents that he would take up their cause in Parliament. The problem is not going to go away. Cottingham residents have suffered several flooding incidents in the last few years and something substantial needs to be done.