MP, Southport could be an island by 2050 due to rising sea levels

Damien Moore MP secures Southport visit commitment from Secretary of State to discuss rising sea levels

Today, Thursday 27th January, Damien Moore MP raised in Parliament his concerns at Southport’s severe risk to flooding. 

 Research has shown that with sea levels continuing to rise, Southport could resemble an island by 2050 if further action is not taken to combat climate change. Protecting Southport from environmental change has long been a priority for Mr. Moore, and today he raise the matter with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, who holds direct responsibility for environmental, flooding, and coastal defence issues. 

 In the Chamber of the House of Commons, the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, agreed to visit Southport and meet there with Mr. Moore to discuss the particular challenges that Southport faces. 

 In 2020, the Conservative Government published their strategy for making the UK more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. This includes a record £5.2 billion investment to better protect 336,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion over the next six years. Around 1,000 schemes across England will receive investment in the first year of the programme. 

 This build’s on the Government’s landmark Environment Act, for which Mr. Moore consistently voted. This created world-leading targets to protect our natural environment, which will in turn reduce the impact of coastal erosion on towns such as Southport.

 In Southport, a number of projects are proposed to help ensure that we become a more environmentally sustainable town. This includes a new Hybrid Energy Park in Norwood, which aims to produce enough clean energy to cover around 20% of Southport’s energy needs, which Mr. Moore visited last week. 

 Damien Moore MP said:

 “Today I spoke in Parliament to raise concerns my constituents and I have at the impact that  rising sea levels could have on Southport.

 “I asked the Environment Secretary, George Eustice MP, to visit Southport so that he can see the risks himself, and so that we can discuss what further steps the Government can take to protect our town and the homes of those who live here.

 “I am encouraged that the Government is already taking strong action to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, such as through our landmark Environment Act, and I am delighted to see local initiatives such as the Hybrid Energy Park take shape.

 “I look forward to welcoming the Secretary of State to Southport in the near future to discuss further how we can protect our town’s future.”