Isle of Wight flooding concerns addressed by West MP hopefuls

Ryde, Gurnard, Newport, Cowes and Binstead bore the brunt of flooding over the last year or so.

We gave the five West candidate 120 words to tell us what they would do to mitigate the risks and help Islanders affected.

Here's what they said...

For the Isle of Wight Green Party, Cameron Palin said: ""Flooding is an ever growing issue across the Island, including in places it hasn’t previously been.

"We need to ensure is that all new housing has sustainable drainage that does not create water just run off and result in floods neighbouring areas.

"The IW Council needs more power to enforce landowners to manage their land properly to mitigate flooding.

"No-one should be left out of pocket due to flooding, a flood-recovery-fund needs to be put in place by government to support people on the ground.

"It is vital that town and parish councils step up like in East Cowes and Ryde when these events happen, local communities rallying together and government providing financial support is what’s needed."

Reform UK's Ian Pickering said: "Climate change has made it rain heavily far more in the last few years and this is unlikely to change.

"Overloading of the sewerage system will also happen as a result and flooding will continue. Rather than pump sewage waste across the Island we need to invest in the infrastructure needed to deal with it locally, on more treatment sites.

"Maintaining the existing drains and installing new ones where possible to direct flood water to better drained areas will mitigate risk.

"Taking part ownership of Southern Water, part of the Critical National Infrastructure scheme would halt bloated management salaries and dividends to shareholders and keep the money where it’s needed compensating homeowners who have been flooded because of poor maintenance."

For Island Labour, Richard Quigley said: "The warmer wetter winters we are seeing have been predicted, but there has little to no government money put into flood mitigation. 

"Civil engineering projects can address the issues, they will be disruptive whilst being undertaken, but will protect peoples homes in the future.

"Homeowners need recompensing for climate based flooding and where insurance is no longer available, a government backed scheme should be considered to protect homes."

Bob Seely, of the Isle of Wight Conservatives, said: "I visited Ryde, Binstead, Gunville and Cowes to see for myself the impact of the flooding and I have met with affected residents. I have also attended public meetings to listen to resident’s views. 

"I took immediate action by contacting various agencies including the Environment Agency, the IW Council and the Government to see what could be done to help. 

"The Conservative government made grants available to assist residents and I signposted residents to them. I am glad many have taken up the offer. 

"I have kept in contact with all agencies and residents in the months following to make sure everyone is working together to mitigate against this level of flooding in the future."

Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, Nick Stuart, said: "It is important to note rural flooding as well in my ward in Brighstone, Calbourne, Shalfleet and Porchfield.

"Given increased intensity of rainfall we need to look at joint approaches with Island organisations, national agencies and Southern Water.

"Govt funding reduction for the Environment Agency and Natural England and the failure to regulate Southern Water need to be addressed.

"At a local level I work with Island Roads and have driven the creation of flood groups in Parish Councils. And with some success as drainage improvements have made Brighstone safer already."

For the West Wight area we need improved budgets for agencies including the Council and better multi agency planning and effort to mitigate and prevent flooding and sewage outfalls.

Read more:

• Catch up with all of the County Press's General Election stories, HERE

• MP East hopefuls on how they'd tackle flooding and help affected residents

For Isle of Wight East, Emily Brothers is standing for Labour; Michael Lilley for the Lib Dems; Vix Lowthion for the Green Party; Sarah Morris for Reform UK and Joe Robertson for the Conservatives.

IW East hopefuls (Image: Contributed)