Has leader considered costs of improved flood protection?

A weekend that's seen some of the worst weather of the year, with flooding and storm damage in many parts of the country, again highlights the precarious position of Boston in the flood risk league.
And co-incidentally, after last week's full meeting of Boston Borough council at which a petition to the government demanding levels of flood protection similar to those in Holland, we have received the following from Independent Borough Councillor Richard Leggott.
"Whilst giving my support at Council on Monday 9th November to the motion to lobby for better flood protection for our Borough, I do have misgivings as to a demand for protection on the scale envisaged by Councillor Richard Austin - 1 in 4000 for agricultural land and 1 in 10000 for urban areas.
"In reasoning for such a level of flood defence Councillor Austin quoted levels of defence enjoyed by SOME areas in Holland.
"Also relevant to comparison with Dutch flood defences is the fact which I have learnt
from inspection of such , and discussion with various Dutch Drainage Board members, that much of the funding of their high level (no pun intended) flood defence spending comes from local sourcing.
"One wonders whether any research into the costs, both nationally and locally, of such improved standards has been undertaken by Councillor Austin.
Perhaps, too, I may explain through your site that, nature being as unpredictable as it is, a 1 in 4000 rating is not a defence against an event that could only happen once in 4000 years.
Such a rating indicates that one is looking to give the protection needed up to the
4000-1 chance of such an event occurring in any one year.
"Whilst, on behalf of all the Borough and its inhabitants , I would dearly love to see a commitment to much higher local flood defence standards by Government , DEFRA and the Environment Agency (and will gladly work to influence such decision makers,) I do wonder if in these times of financial restraints, and given Boston's actual record as to recent flooding, one should be seeking more realistic improvement targets in possible discussions with all at Westminster.
"Two more questions that raise themselves in my mind.
"Is this 'raise our flood defences' item intended to divert us from BBI's failure to deliver a Bypass for Boston?
"Following on from that - this is somewhat tongue in cheek - will we get improved flood defence levels in time to protect our new Bypass? "
Richard Leggott

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