Essex could lose out on funding for future flood defence measures, with Government cash directed to areas such as Carlisle and Boscastle.

That was the message to Essex County Council's environment and waste policy development group last week as it received an update on flood defence measures in the county.

With the county's flood defences being transferred from the soon to be extinct Essex Flood Defence Committee to a regional body incorporating Norfolk and Suffolk, funding will come from central government, although Essex council taxpayers will still have to fork out £844,000 next financial year as a local levy.

And, councillors heard from county cabinet member Tracey Chapman, who has responsibility for emergency planning, and Peter Pearson, head of emergency planning, there were fears that, in future, the money would not come to Essex and that central government funding would not favour the county.

The relatively good news is, said Cllr Chapman, that agreement has been reached for 2005/06 that the Essex contribution can be spent locally. After that, there are no guarantees.

"There is no guarantee the new committee will spend the money it raises in Essex on Essex schemes," she said.

Mr Pearson said: "This comes at a time when the tsunami and the flooding in Carlisle and Boscastle are very much in people's minds.

"For the new flood defence committee, Anglia East, there is a huge range of issues across the whole region. Whereas before we were looking at priorities within Essex, we are now competing in a much bigger field."

He stressed the need for local knowledge and expertise in dealing with flooding not to be lost under the new system.

"We have, over several years, a great deal of expertise among councils in Essex over flood defence.

"We have got to make sure that knowledge and expertise is retained," said Mr Pearson.

Published Monday January 24, 2005

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