Local Councillors have praised the joint working between Central Government the Environment Agency and the County Council which has led to the completion of flood defences to protect the centre of Morpeth.

Morpeth North Town Councillor Bob Robertson said “We all remember the devastation of the floods in 2008 and 2012. Two such damaging floods in such a short period meant that serious action had to be taken. I commend both Local and National Government for grasping the nettle on this.”

Town Councillor David Clark, who himself has been flooded out in the past, said “Recognition also has to be given to volunteers like the Morpeth Flood Action Group for all their tireless work in liaising with the Environment Agency and the County Council as this scheme progressed. Now that the defences are complete this needs to be recognised by the insurance industry”

Morpeth North County Councillor David Bawn added “Flood insurance was becoming a really worrying issue for large swathes of the Town with insurance becoming unavailable or prohibitively expensive. I hope that insurers will update their records and recognise that the risk to central Morpeth is now down to acceptable levels and they should offer insurance accordingly.