Councillors also claim the Environment Agency is too big to function effectively
Action is needed on flood defences in Lancashire's Ribble Valley , say councillors who have accused the Environment Agency of 'sitting on billions of pounds in reserves'.
Coun Mirfin said Environment Agency accounts appear to show it has unallocated reserves totalling over £10billion and a general reserve of £836m.He said: "We have estimated that this is enough to fund a 2p cut in income tax. It is a national scandal. If the Environment Agency is so inefficient in delivering flood defence measures , that money ought to be taken off it and given to other bodies. like county and district councils as part of levelling-up funding.
"Our message to residents is simple: as we argued over two long years ago. The problem lies firmly at the door of the Environment Agency." 'FORECASTS HAVE BEEN SLASHED' Coun Hindle said the audit office said the Environment Agency has slashed its forecast for properties to be protected in a six-year-period to 2027 by over 40 per cent. This is despite government ministers doubling its capital funding amid dangerous flood fears
'WAY FORWARD' This week, the councillors said the Environment Agency has sent an update. Coun Mirfin posted it on social media. Regarding Billington, the statement read: "A feasibility study has confirmed that a stand-alone flood defence scheme to protect Billington would be a viable solution and the agency intends to explore this further.
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