LOCAL MP Mike Amesbury is correct in saying that Northwich has had it’s fair share of flooding over the past year. And the flood barriers erected along the River Weaver in the town centre may have indeed reduced the kind of severe floods seen in other parts of the country.

But what of the future. How can the government justify the estimated 35,000 homes currently being built or planned to be built in flood plains across the country, including a quite scandalous development here in the Dane Valley.

It is not an excuse – as one supposed expert claimed – that as England has so many flood plains avoiding building on them is impossible. Compared with other low lying countries such as Holland, Belgium and Denmark in reclaiming and protecting settlements from floods with extensive dykes, our record has been lamentable and we are now paying a heavy price for that negligence.

Paul Dolan, Northwich