This has been a real contrast to 2024 when we had too much rain and the result was very similar to this year.
Much of Lincolnshire鈥檚 prime agricultural land sits below sea level and much of its man-made water system needs significant maintenance (in parts) to aid the swift conveyancing of water away from agricultural land and rural housing.
皇家华人has been at the forefront in the county, working with the minister responsible for water management and flooding, local MPs, farmers and land owners, Internal Drainage Boards, Lincolnshire County Council and the EA to find a way to work together to try to improve the now all too familiar impact of excessive rainfall on our homes and farmland here in Lincolnshire.
We thought that we had found a solution when, in May 2024, we were able to get sign-off from the secretary of state to adopt a pilot in parts of the county which would see local IDBs and farmers working together to remove vegetation and undertake general maintenance on some non-major rivers. Unfortunately, the then Conservative government called an early election and the pilot was put on hold.
Water: too much, too little, is a key issue in agriculture. We haven鈥檛 given up and have continued to lobby and work with new MPs explaining the problems learned from the lack of maintenance during successive storms, such as Henk and Babet, and how our much thought-out pilot could be part of a solution.
One of the new MPs we have been working with is Labour MP Lee Pitcher, who covers the north of the county and has a background in water. He also chairs the APPG (All Party-Political Group) on Water. Lee has met with local farmers and is keen to help where he can.
Following a meeting with 25 farmers in May this year, myself, colleague and Regional Policy Manager Emily Wood, County Chairman Henry Moreton and a group of farming constituents who sit on local IDBs, met with him. The meeting enabled those board members to explain that the lack of maintenance on Lincolnshire waterways is making it impossible for IDBs to keep communities safe, and outline issues around communication with the EA. Doncaster, which sits in Lee鈥檚 constituency, is covered by the East Midlands and Yorkshire Water companies adding to issues.
We have presented him with a lot of information on current failings and how the pilot proposal could help.
We really want to see this trialled in the county as it could help alleviate certain issues around maintenance, improve farmer confidence and communication with the EA and, most importantly, do something practical cost effectively.
I hope to write about this topic here again and with a positive outcome!