Flooding can be an absolute disaster.
There's no doubt that in recent years we've had more unpredictable weather, and a higher number of heavy downpours. Making sure our local flood defences stand up to the test is so important, and can even stopping someone's life being turned upside down. That's why I've been working with some of our brilliant councillors and local residents to get the upgrades that we need.
In Doddington I helped the parish council secure an ingenious new system - including two new lagoons to trap rainwater before it finds its way into the village, as well as new hedgerows and ditches to stop water reaching the road itself. It was a great partnership between local residents, local farmers, and Kent County Council.
In Faversham, I've been helping Councillor Denise Knights with her tireless campaigning for improvements to Whitstable Road. She and I approached Kent County Council who have been a great help and agreed to fund some works.
And in Headcorn, after being alerted by a constituent to flooding on Grigg Lane I took the case up with Kent County Council who have once again got the job done.
Clearly in the future we've got to plan for these downpours, and last summer I also wrote to the then Communities Secretary Greg Clark calling for water companies to be given a bigger role in the planning process. I want to see water companies put on the same footing as highways authorities as a statutory consultee for planning, giving water capacity the same importance as other considerations like road safety.
With joined up action and the right planning, we can keep flooding at bay.
