I WISH to respond to the letter from the Crouch family about flood risk from the Haydon Brook.

We are as disappointed as the Crouch family that the Environment Agency (EA) has been so slow to provide a suitable response to the flooding that occurred in 2007. We have been applying pressure on all agencies to deliver solutions for the residents who have been affected by flooding and we have been delighted with the professional and timely response by Thames Water to deal with the foul water issues in one part of the area.

We would like to place on record our appreciation to Thames Water and their contractor, Murphy's for a job well done. All through the last three years we have arranged public and private meetings with the EA and Council's drainage officers in the hope and expectation that works to the Haydon Brook improvements could be completed at the same time as the Thames Water works. The EA has either been unwilling or unable to respond in a timely fashion even though we have been able to secure some Council money to help with the delivery of an appropriate scheme. However, it is worth noting that both the EA and Council have carried out some works to improve water flows on both the Brook and Haydonleigh Drain but we believe that there is much more that needs to be done.

Most recently, Coun Renard met with the EA and Council's drainage team about four months ago to keep the pressure on and to review progress. At that meeting they showed him draft plans that they hoped to implement to address the concerns raised in the Crouch family letter. The EA officers advised that they had to present their proposals to their Board for approval and the necessary funding and we expect to hear the outcome in July. The EA agreed that they would participate in a public meeting once they had confirmation that their Board had given the go ahead and we will organise that as quickly as possible once that happens.

We will continue to push for these works to be done and will post updates on www.haydonwickintouch.com and other Media.

JUSTIN TOMLINSON MP, COUN DAVID RENARD, COUN REX BARNETT, COUN IAN DOBIE