Fifty-five 'high consequence' flood defences in region are 'below required condition'

FIFTY-FIVE "high consequence" flood defences across northern Lincolnshire are "below required condition".

- By IVAN MORRIS POXTON

The BBC Shared Data Unit has compiled extensive data on flood defences in England inspected by the Environment Agency.

"High consequence" defences protect multiple homes and businesses. The data shows there are more than 6,500 "high consequence" defences in England that are "below required condition, and 55 such in northern Lincolnshire.

An Environment Agency spokesperson has said protecting people in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire from flooding "is a top priority.

Overall, in the last 10 years it has invested more than £200m in flood defence investment in Lincolnshire alone.

Among major investment locally, the Environment Agency marked earlier this month three years of construction of new Stallingborough flood defences. The Environment Agency spokesperson also stressed a "below required condition" defence does not mean it has failed, but that it needs work doing to it.

The data underlines why the Environment Agency is often a key consultee with planning developments proposed in North East Lincolnshire.

All 326 flood defences there are "high consequence". Four per cent, or 13, are below required condition.