Well done the Review in highlighting the decision of the Environment Agency to cease to maintain the flood defences along the Awre peninsula. Bravo Mark Awre in fighting the bureaucrats!

The Environment Agen­cy decision is incredibly short-sighted. At a time of growing world food shortages, Britain can scarce afford to lose 450 acres of prime farm land.

The Environment Agen­cy claims that it is too expensive to maintain. Mark Awre believes that the real reason is to prevent flooding in the Tewkesbury area. Mark asked the Agency if this was the case. He was assured that it was purely on financial grounds.

Therefore, to establish who is telling the truth, I have submitted a Freedom of Information Request to the Environment Agency asking how much has been spent on these defences in the last ten years?

If it turns out to be a derisory amount then it would seem to bear out Mr Awre's analysis.

I look forward to hearing their response.

– County Cllr Richard Leppington, Blakeney and Bream.