Fenland and West Norfolk MPs have set up a summit meeting to discuss how flooding in the region can be prevented and to get an update on how ongoing work is progressing.

Cambs Times: The A1101 road at Welney is currently under water and closed for access. Picture: Matthew Usher.The A1101 road at Welney is currently under water and closed for access. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

Part of the discussion will centre on the A1101 Welney causeway, near Downham Market, which is often flooded for months at a time.

The recent heavy rainfall caused the road to flood at the weekend resulting in closure, which created substantial issues for residents including the additional mileage and time lost because of the diversions.

Norfolk County Council will also present an update on a feasibility study into raising sections of the Welney causeway to reduce the number of days closed due to flooding.

The meeting is a follow-up to one held in October 2014 when the Environment Agency (EA) announced its six-year capital spend programme and the collaborative work with Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs)IDBs and other partners.

The meeting will be attended by North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay, North West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham and South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss, who is secretary of state for the Department of the Environment.

Ms Truss said: “The focus will be on the collaborative work between the EA and organisations like the IDBs.

“This was something I first raised in May 2014 as I was keen to see the excellent local knowledge of landowners, IDBs and councils utilised more effectively.”

Sir Henry said he would be fighting to ensure that North West Norfolk continued to get a fair share of resources from coastal defence management.

He added: “We also need to continue to push to secure extra contributions from businesses and some residents, towards the flood defence work.

“We must also not allow the government or the EA to use the recent devastating floods in other parts of the country as an excuse to move flood resources away from East Anglia.”

Mr Barclay said: “We also need to constantly review our flood protection to ensure the lessons from floods elsewhere in the country are learnt, and to confirm with the relevant experts that the right steps are being taken locally to minimise our own risk of flooding.”

The summit is at The Assembly Room, Downham Market Town Hall.