MP Steve Barclay pledged tonight to help anyone in March or the rest of Fenland faced with insurance claim problems following Friday’s flooding.

Cambs Times: March floods, Cherrywood Avenue (PHOTO: Barry Feetham)March floods, Cherrywood Avenue (PHOTO: Barry Feetham) (Image: Archant)

The NE Cambs MP has been in March over the weekend and said he had found it “extremely distressing” seeing at first hand the affect of flood water on people’s homes.

“I am very grateful to the blue light emergency services too for their all hard work,” he said.

Mr Barclay said he had been in regular contact with Fenland Council leader John Clark and had been assured the authority had responded properly to the flooding issues. He said a relief centre opened on Friday at the height of the floods had now closed through lack of need.

But it would re-open, at short notice, should the need arise again, said Mr Barclay.

Cambs Times: March floods, Cherrywood Avenue (PHOTO: Barry Feetham)March floods, Cherrywood Avenue (PHOTO: Barry Feetham) (Image: Archant)

The MP said the big clear up would now begin “and I am keen to support any constituent facing problems, whether that be housing or insurance or whatever.”

He said it was too early to see what lessons might be learned from the flooding since the amount of rain that fell – a normal August’s rainfall in 24 hours- was exceptional.

But he was keen to continue to press ahead with bringing organisations such as the Environment Agency and the Middle Level into the list of statutory consultees when housing is planned.

Recently he had been discussing with people in Whittlesey their fears and concerns over flood issues related to housing and the same considerations might also now apply in March and elsewhere in Fenland.

Cambs fire said tonight that their control room had received just one call relating to flooding in Cambridgeshire today despite the heavy rain.

“All of our crews and the high volume pump in March have been stood down,” said the spokesman.