Political opinion: Leigh Ingham MP convenes Flooding Taskforce to push for solution for residents
Leigh Ingham MP convened the inaugural meeting of the Sandon Road Flooding Taskforce, created to push for a long-term solution, and better interim solutions, to the flooding on Sandon Road in Stafford.
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Attended by representatives from the Environment Agency, Severn Trent, and Staffordshire County Council, alongside local business owners, the meeting discussed how a cross-agency approach could best deliver a much-needed long term solution, while better addressing the flooding in the interim.
Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages said: “Following my open forum with 65 residents, the Taskforce meeting was a constructive opportunity to raise the findings with the relevant agencies and discuss how we can best support residents by working as a cross-agency group.”
This week, the Government also announced funding for 1,000 projects being built or maintained in England as part of the record £2.65bn investment in England’s flood defences. Two projects in Stafford have received a combined £279,000 funding for property level flood resilience, including Sandyford Brook.
Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages said: “While it’s brilliant to have been awarded funding for property level flood resilience in Stafford as part of the Government’s £2.65bn investment in flood defences, it’s not a total solution.
“To fully address this pervasive flooding, I am advocating for shift in the way flooding funding is allocated. I will continue to make strong representations to government Ministers for a change to the current funding model and will keep residents updated on my work.”
In January 2025, Leigh Ingham MP asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer about his plans for investing into flooding infrastructure during her first Prime Minister’s Question. The MP has ongoing meetings with Floods Minister Emma Hardy, who is aware of the issue and the feedback from residents.
Submitted on behalf of Labour MP Leigh Ingham.
