Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an urgent assessment on the repeated flooding to Riverside Drive, in Bolton South East constituency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The River Irwell at Kearsley Flood Risk Management Scheme, which covers the communities of Prestolee and Stoneclough in Bolton, remains a priority project for the Environment Agency (EA) and its partners given the devastating floods which affected the lives of residents in December 2015 and February 2020. The EA has previously detailed (under PQ23256) a number of significant engineering challenges which have been revealed following ground investigation studies. The project team continue to work through these challenges with the EA’s consultants and contractors, in order to define a preferred option. The findings will have an impact on cost, construction method, and disturbance to residents during construction. In response to this, the project team continue to carefully weigh up, through analysis and design workshops with consultants and partners, the most effective method of reducing flood risk within the area. The project team will meet the Riverside Drive Flood Action Group in November to be available for questions and answers, and will ensure that Yasmin Qureshi MP is offered a pre-briefing.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of dog attacks.
Answered by Scott Mann
We recognise that dog attacks can have horrific consequences, and we take this issue very seriously.
In December 2021, Defra published research in collaboration with Middlesex University investigating measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog.
The research considers the effectiveness of current dog control measures and makes several recommendations. These relate to consistency in enforcement practice and greater use of preventative enforcement models, improved knowledge and awareness of appropriate behaviour around dogs, strengthened accreditation of dog trainers, and improved data recording and collection.
In response to this research, Defra has established a Responsible Dog Ownership working group involving police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations. This is actively developing reforms in relation to each of the four main strands of the Middlesex report. Conclusions and policy reform recommendations are expected next year. These should address all aspects of tackling irresponsible dog ownership effectively, from prevention to robust, consistent enforcement, focussing on owners as well as on their dogs.
This summer Defra has also worked with stakeholders to launch a dog safety communications campaign to promote safe interactions between children and dogs. As part of this we have supported the Canine and Feline Sector Group to disseminate their Dog Safety Code, which incorporates key advice and resources to equip parents and children with the knowledge they need to enjoy spending time with dogs safely.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress has been made on the Riverside Drive project in Bolton South East constituency.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Environment Agency (EA) and its consultants remain committed to understanding how flood risk can be most effectively managed in the communities of Prestolee and Stonecloug. The EA continues to work towards developing a preferred option. Engineering challenges regarding ground conditions, proximity of houses to bank top and any potential future flood wall have meant that the design process has unfortunately taken longer than expected.
The EA has recently undertaken further modelling works and finalised the ground investigation report which has provided a better understanding of the ground conditions in the area. Using this information, the EA is continuing to work with its consultants and contractors to develop a constructible and affordable solution. Consultants have also recently conducted a number of environmental surveys at the site including a Biodiversity Net Gain baseline survey.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132232, on Property: Bolton South East, what the challenges are that have arisen in the delivery of the project.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Over the last 18 months several design challenges have arisen including space for construction, ground conditions and level of bedrock. Last week the Environment Agency (EA) wrote to the community to explain these challenges and to be clear that there may be an impact on programme and delivery of a flood risk scheme within the discussed timescales. The EA is committed to working towards finding both a technical solution and to maintain an open and honest relationship with the community. The EA is working with partners to strive to ensure that any funding gap is removed so that a construction contract can be awarded.
The EA has a close working relationship with the local Flood Action Group and has held meetings to provide updates and take questions. The EA, in co-operation with partners United Utilities and Bolton Council, has completed interim measures such as installation of non-return valves on the surface water system and filling-in of low spots.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the residents of Riverside Drive in Stoneclough in Bolton South East constituency have had their priority status downgraded by the Environment Agency.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
No, despite challenges that have arisen in the delivery of the project, this scheme retains its High Priority rating.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he briefed Conservative hon. Members from Greater Manchester on the clean air zone on 19 January 2022.
Answered by Jo Churchill
Following a written request from several Conservative MPs to meet with the Defra Secretary of State, the meeting took place on 19 January 2022.
The Secretary of State and I also met with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on 26 January 2022.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional support the Government will provide to Greater Manchester Combined Authority to implement the clean air zone required by central government.
Answered by Jo Churchill
We have provided a substantial £132 million from the Clean Air Fund to Greater Manchester authorities to help businesses and individuals upgrade to compliant vehicles. This is on top of providing £36 million to enable the implementation of the Clean Air Zone.
This funding has not yet been spent as the HGV support scheme has only recently opened for applications, and schemes for other vehicle types affected are due to launch later in the year.
We have also agreed with Greater Manchester authorities that we will keep the position of further funding under review, subject to clear evidence of need and have agreed a process for doing so.
We are aware that Greater Manchester has proposed a review of funds and we continue to engage with them on the evidence.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will make additional funding available for flood defences in Prestolee and Stoneclough.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Starting from 2021, the Government will invest £5.2 billion in a six-year capital investment programme for flood and coastal erosion risk management to build around 2,000 new flood defences. This investment will better protect 336,000 properties, including 290,000 homes, from flooding and coastal erosion by 2027.
Defra provides the majority of its funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management to the Environment Agency as Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid (FDGiA). The Environment Agency spends this funding directly on FCERM, but also passes some on as grants to Local Authorities or Internal Drainage Boards
The proposed Prestolee and Stoneclough flood scheme will protect approximately 80 homes in the community of Prestolee, with the total cost of the scheme estimated to be £3 million - £4.5 million. The scheme is currently eligible for £1.47 million of Defra FDGiA, of which £250,000 has already been awarded for 2020/21 following a successful FDGiA acceleration bid. This has allowed the scheme to progress to Outline Business Case stage.
Funding for all projects are allocated according to the rules that govern Defra’s existing six-year capital programme and in accordance with the Partnership Funding Policy. The Partnership Funding policy clarifies the level of investment communities can expect from Defra so it is clear what level of funding they need source from other sources to allow projects to go ahead.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Environment Agency on flood defences in Prestolee, Bolton.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The proposed Prestolee and Stoneclough flood scheme will protect approximately 80 homes in the community of Prestolee. The scheme is at the design stage and an outline business case is being developed. The total overall cost is likely to be around £3 million to £5 million, and a sizeable amount of investment has already been raised. The Environment Agency hopes to begin construction by spring 2023, completing works before March 2024.