Reader’s letter: Leeds flood defences ‘prove devolution works’

Sir;- We in Leeds and surrounding areas of West Yorkshire were lucky to avoid the worst of the flooding from the latest storm to hit the UK.

We were protected thanks to the works of Leeds City Council in constructing new flood defences in recent years. The Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme was recently completed, after millions of pounds of investment to prevent the dreadful flooding we saw around Boxing Day in 2015.

We also should give thanks to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin and the works of our devolved West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

They have helped build extensive flood risk management programmes such as the “Chellow Dene Urban Wetland” in Bradford, “Landscapes for Water” scheme in Calderdale, the “Albert Street Flood Alleviation Scheme” in Kirklees, and several other programmes of natural and human-made flood defences.

The installation of natural flood managment dams, planting trees, creating designated wetlands and meadows in flood prone areas; the construction of weirs and culverts which protect the banks of our rivers, all reduce erosion and stop sediment being carried into our town streets.

These projects have flourished thanks to the hard work of our Labour Mayor.

Working together with local Parish/District councils, the WYCA liases with communities and businesses so that we are in a much better and safer position than without the added funding and strategic vision created by the WYCA, and other combined authorities in Yorkshire & the Humber,  granted to us through the process of devolution.

All of these projects show how effective devolution in our region improves all of our lives and protects us from the ongoing effects of climate change.

Better construction of flood defences and re-wilding through devolvedmoney improves the health of wildlife biodiversity.

Regional devolution also allows the better spending of taxpayer money to be allocated in the right areas, decided by people (Mayors) who have the local knowledge to do proper planning and management of reasonable infrastructure and housing development.

This assists developers, so that we don’t build too many new buildings on floodplains like in other parts of the UK and England, which is part of the reason why the floods from Storm Bert have sadly hit southern parts of England and Wales so strongly.

While there has been some damage, it has been greatly reduced from the  damages we have seen in previous years. The local knowledge of Mayor Brabin is to be sure, a huge factor in the successful damage reduction we see here, in comparison with the awful property damage seen in other areas of our country.

I am sure even more can be done to keep communities, people and property safe and dry in future storms with more devolution, funding and powers.

If anyone wishes to research what other flood defences the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has created to help protect our communities, visit the WYCA website.

Devolution works, and if you have feedback about concerns with flood defences or management in your local area, please get in touch with the WYCA and they will be more informed to help at CustomerFeedback@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or by emailing members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Climate, Energy and Environment Committee 
which can be found on the WYCA website.

Thank you for reading.

Cllr Tyler Callum Wilson-Kerr
Aberford & District Parish Council

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