Newbury Overlooked in Flood Defence Plans

The Government’s latest £1.4 billion flood investment programme for 2026-2027 has just been announced, yet Newbury and West Berkshire have been completely left behind. Despite over 600 projects receiving the green light elsewhere, our local community has not been granted a single penny of investment. £0.

After the previous Government slashed flood protection plans and failed to invest in flood defences, we have seen first-hand the devastating impacts as homes, businesses and vital transport links were overwhelmed after torrential rain hit the area in 2023 and 2024. These events showed just how fragile our local flood infrastructure is, and that it is still not fit for purpose. 

In West Berkshire, 69 of the 345 defence systems are currently below the required condition set by the Environment Agency. Every weather warning brings real anxiety, and that pressure will only grow as extreme weather becomes more frequent; six of the 10 wettest winter half-years (October to March) for England and Wales have occurred in the 21st century. Right now, three flood alerts are in place across West Berkshire.

Despite this evident and growing risk, our area has been left out of the latest round of funding. I have written directly to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds MP, to demand answers on why Newbury has been overlooked and what steps will now be taken to ensure our communities are properly protected from rising flood risk.

Local groups, such as the Newbury Flood and Drainage Action Group, continue to do crucial work monitoring river levels and raising awareness for local residents. Their work is invaluable, and in the coming week, I will be attending April’s Lambourn Valley Flood Forum to maintain the pressure on Ofwat, Thames Water, and ministers to take real action on persistent surcharges and sewage spills that are flowing into our beloved rivers and chalk streams. 

As we know all too well, flooding and sewage dumps are twin threats. Heavy rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems and leave local residents in the shocking position of having to pump raw sewage out of their own streets and gardens. So, I know the absence of funding will be disappointing and concerning for many, but it will only strengthen my calls for agencies to enact both robust water management systems and flood resilience across West Berkshire.