Badgers to be moved to stop Wainfleet flood risk

Pictured are (from left) Deborah Campbell, Environment Agency flood and coastal risk manager, Joe Taylor, chairman of Thorpe St Peter Parish Council, Phil Younge, Environment Agency area manager and MP Matt Warman. ANL-160502-125205001

Badgers are to be encouraged to move because setts on a bank in Wainfleet are posing a flood risk.

Matt Warman, MP for Skegness and Boston, hosted a meeting last Friday between the Environment Agency (EA) and Wainfleet town, parish and district councillors to discuss a solution.

Following an on-site visit along the River Steeping, the construction of an artificial sett in order to relocate the badgers was discussed.

As the badgers are a protected species, relocation work would be carried out during the non-breeding season in order to minimise disruption, whilst fulfilling the EA’s primary aim of protecting people and property.

However, Deborah Campbell, Environment Agency flood and coastal risk manager, assured the meeting that should EA forecasts show a risk to the bank, either from overtopping or collapse, an immediate response team would ‘sheet’ it to prevent river water potentially damaging nearby land and property.

Phil Younge, EA area manager for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, said the maximum in Government funding had been secured for the project.

Coun Wendy Bowkett said: “I am very pleased to have had this meeting. We need to get these works underway as soon as possible to rectify this problem.

Mr Warman said: “It is encouraging to hear the willingness of both the EA and the local community to work together to ensure the best outcome for the residents of Wainfleet.”

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