Forncett's flooding danger is far from ‘exaggerated’

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This article appeared in the Diss Express on 13 March 2009

South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon brings Diss Express readers up to date with some of his recent work in the community

I was in Forncett last week to see for myself how vulnerable residents are to flooding from the River Tas.

The risk is much higher because the Environment Agency is not looking after the riverbed properly, and I have asked them to look at this again.

Residents showed me photographs of flooded roads, gardens and cars trapped by rising waters.

A car trapped by flood waters in Wash Lane, Forncett

According to Natural England, the river should be "naturalised" and they say Forncett Parish Council is "exaggerating" the danger. I don't think so. Suggesting that "naturalising" a river should come before people's lives gives conservation a bad name.

I don't call cars washed away with trapped drivers in them "exaggerating".

I have sent Natural England copies of residents' photographs and asked for their comments.

Autism bill

I was pleased to be in the House of Commons on February 27, to vote for Cheryl Gillan MP's Private Members' Bill on Autism.

The Bill, which received cross party support, aims to ensure local authorities would, by law, have to provide the right sort of care and help to children and adults with autism and other autistic spectrum disorders such as Asperger Syndrome.

I have been working with Norfolk County Council and mothers with adult sons with Aspergers to create a service which caters specifically for their needs.

I am pleased to report plans are now well advanced and it looks as though Norfolk should soon have its own service.

New Showroom

I recently visited Lyndale Compact's new showroom in Vinces Road, Diss.

As well as being a Diss town councillor, Lyndale's managing director Andrew Thurston is a successful businessman whose company is one of the country's top suppliers of furniture to schools. During the present economic climate, it's refreshing to hear of a success story.

I congratulate Mr Thurston for proving Diss is a great place to do business, for providing jobs for local people and for offering such an excellent service for schools, especially in Norfolk and Suffolk.

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