I've been working with Humberside Fire Authority, Hull University and North Lincs Council since my election, on a plan for a national flood resilience centre 'The Ark' to be built in Scunthorpe. I think we are a great location for a centre like this, it is an ambitious plan for a national centre of excellence and it's time we had some national projects in the North.
Earlier this week I “bobbed” in the Commons, trying to catch the eye of Mr Deputy Speaker so that I could have the opportunity to remind the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that more needs to be done to increase our resilience to flooding, and to ask her to seriously consider our ideas for this project in Scunthorpe. I will continue to make our case with the Chancellor and other relevant Ministers.
If commissioned the Ark will help bring jobs to our local community, provide training to flood responders nationally, and serve as a centre for flood prevention research. I am really keen to see this plan succeed and I'll be working hard to support it.
You can read more about the Ark on today’s Telegraph here :