"Council has done more than just talk about flood risk - and drainage boards serve us well"

Our comment last week that “the perceived risk of flooding in Boston and all that this entails by way of cramping economic expansion, limiting housing development and pricing people out of the insurance market, needs to move out of the talking shop phase and become something more constructive,” has resulted in some helpful information from one of our readers who is In the Know ...
The writer tells us that over the years, Boston Borough Council has been trying to do more than “mutter amongst themselves.” on the issue.
We have been reminded of a delegation to Westminster early in the new century to put the issues before MPs and the Association of British Insurers – although this unfortunately clashed with a debate on defence.
There has also been pressure on the Environment Agency regarding their flood risk assessment map of the area -which shows the impact of tidal flooding as if tidal defences were not there.
Our correspondent writes: “A new map has been drawn up and is now in circulation, although how much significance insurers care to give to this new mapping is their call.”
Last year Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman was “given a good talking to” during a visit to Boston, and her departmental colleague and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment, Richard Benyon, has also been well lobbied on subject ... as has our local MP Mark Simmonds.
“The Environment Agency says that the Haven Barrier is on the way, but subject to finalisation and a funding nod from the treasury.
“Lincolnshire County Council has reserved £11m to contribute to the scheme.
“The Wash Estuary Strategy Group is now disbanded having done its job - and put forward as its preferred choice for the next 100 years a Coastal Management Policy to  'hold the line’ whilst acknowledging the effects of global warming .
“The alternative was 'managed retreat'.
"I'll leave readers to interpret that how they wish!
“Internal drainage boards continue to use drainage rates to maintain and improve the very relevant drainage infrastructure within our borough area.
“They have recently secured agreement that the local levies they pay to the Environment Agency will be spent locally, which is why Boston Borough is very well served having two very local internal drainage boards whose budget of around £4 million is all directed towards drainage matters.
“Hopefully, they will continue to deliver, maintain and improve our locally required infrastructures and keep us out of the press and media for the' wrong reasons' on these occasions.
“It is also to be hoped that new flood risk and drainage partnerships now being formed by interested parties within Lincolnshire can deliver a more joined up and cost effective approach to such matters which will, in time - if not immediately - at last persuade the Association of British Insurers that Lincolnshire, and our borough in particular, is not such a high flood risk area.
“Others in the know are aware of other aspects of Boston Borough Council’s efforts to cancel out the disastrous effects of the Environment Agency’s first flood risk mapping exercise, and  could probably add to my submission with their knowledge of other contacts made and campaigns mounted.
“Whilst a lot of what has happened so far could be seen as just  'talking,' I do believe that what has been gained so far amounts to more than talk, and that local representatives have made great efforts on behalf of our borough and its residents - probably because, with or without any flooding, we're all in the same boat.”

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