How can the Isle of Wight and its residents be more resilient to the effects of climate change in relation to flooding and land slippage on the island? How do you propose to address these issues?
The Isle of Wight has traditionally experienced constant relative humidity levels between 79% and 83%. Rainfall patterns on the Isle of Wight are variable with the least rainfall occurring in the summer months (24mm) and the most rainfall occurring in the autumn and winter months (63mm in November). In 2023, this has dramatically changed with 110 mm in August, 64 mm in September, 250 mm in October, and 200 mm in November. This accounts for an increase of rainfall by 100%.
During the floods in 2023, I worked with residents to get a fair deal and raised funds for the most vulnerable residents and local charities whose homes and premises were affected.
The Environment Agency Section 19 Flood report on recent floods has identified the issues that added to the flooding and needs to be acted upon by the three main agencies involved. The Environment Agency, Southern Water and Island Roads must work in preparation for flooding and introduce the mitigating interventions needed as a collective, not as three individual entities. I will be asking the IW Council to create a task force of the three organisations and create a flood prevention plan for the at risk areas.
Since last year I have had an on-going petition.
This torrential rain near coastal settlements such as Ryde and Ventnor is causing serious flooding and landslips which is seeing residents losing their homes and livelihoods. The IW Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2018 and in 2023 we are seeing the realities of the Emergency. I believe there has to be a total rethink of coastal planning and infrastructure and massive investment in making sure coastal towns and villages are climate change proofed for the long term future.
Conservative failure to act against the risk of floods has cost the economy nearly £4BN since 2010. Inaction resulted in many Island homes being damaged, businesses decimated, and agriculture severely affected. Compensation has only been given for Storm Babet. As your MP, I will advocate for more consistent support, recognising the devasting consequences from flooding for residents and businesses.
One in six UK properties are now at risk of flooding. The Environment Agency estimate that the number of at-risk homes could double by 2050 due to the impact of climate change, which is leading to more volatile weather patterns, more intense rainfall and more floods. That’s why I think a step-change response from the Environment Agency is needed to clean tributaries from the East Yar River, action from Southern Water to separate sewage from rainwater and deploy flood gates at Simeon Recreation Grounds and Island Roads to clear surface water. In addition, more flood mitigation measures are needed that are able to cope with our changing climate. When heavy downpours coincide with high tides this does not allow the effective operation of sluice gates at Bembridge.
I will encourage a Labour Government to establish a COBRA style Flood Resilience Taskforce and urge Keir Starmer to appoint a Minister with responsibility to overhaul Local Resilience Forums. The COBRA-style taskforce would coordinate flooding preparation and resilience between central government, Isle of Wight Council and other authorities, local communities and emergency services. It will ensure that vulnerable areas are identified and protected, including drainage systems, flood defences and natural flood management schemes being completed on time. The taskforce will also provide accountability for progress on flood prevention in areas at risk, such as Ryde and Yaverland.
Climate change is real. But it doesn’t mean that we are going to have hotter summers – we are also going to have wetter winters and unseasonable weather. The recent historical flooding and landslip events in East Wight and across the island are going to become more frequent, and on a bigger scale, if we do not limit the emissions of greenhouse gases through policies which lead us towards net zero emissions.
As MP for IW East I would support a Climate and Nature Bill alongside the other Green MPs to reduce emissions in the UK and keep temperature rises to below 1.5C. But we need to do much more. Green MPs would also support a £3billion Climate Adaptation Fund to support vulnerable communities in high risk areas, such as Ventnor, to protect and rebuild.
The flooding events across the Isle of Wight in October 2023 were devastating for many residents, businesses and wildlife – and it is clear that the risks are going to continue throughout the coming years. Sadly it showed that the Isle of Wight seemed ill-prepared to meet the scale of the weather crises which face us as the climate changes, and we must ramp up our management of these flooding events to protect property, life, infrastructure and our landscape.
The UK’s current climate targets do not reflect the urgency of the climate crisis or what is required by global justice. As MP for IW East I would push the government to transition to a zero-carbon society as soon as possible, and more than a decade ahead of 2050. Locally I would look to support and build upon the IW Council Climate and Environment Strategy, particularly community energy, transport and housing.
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