Cllr Nick Oliver, Northumberland’s representative on the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee has welcomed an extra £1.4m funding for flood defences in Northumberland. The county is in the final year of a six year regional program led by the Environment Agency collaborating with Northumbrian Water, all local authorities and many other stakeholders.

The region has outperformed the targets set for us by government to protect more houses and businesses and this extra funding allows us to go even further. £1m will be spent in Hexham in a £4.1m scheme protecting the industrial estates near the river including the council depot and £450,000 will contribute to the £3m cost of a scheme in Ponteland protecting nearly 300 houses.

Nick commented:

“I’d like to thank the Environment Agency for their leadership in these important works and the council flood team for having a pipeline of projects ready to fund.

"Our MP Guy Opperman deserves special mention for tireless campaigning for better flood protection in the region and nationally.”