The government should do more to support local flood resilience groups and developers must be held accountable when they fail to tackle flooding issues.

That's according to Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns, who forced a Parliament debate on the issue this week.

The MP highlighted the barriers faced by communities in Whissendine, Langham, Thurnby, Braceborough Tallington, Greatford and Tixover who face repeated flooding.

She told Parliament: "Water has no respect for property. It has no regard for a family's memories or for a business's survival. 

"It rises where it will, and for too many in our communities across Rutland, Harborough and the South Kesteven villages, it rises again and again. 

"In Whissendine, the White Lion pub flooded four times in 2024 alone. The water was so deep in the village that people water-skied, although of course I cannot condone that. 

"The pub's damage was so severe and so repeated that the insurers, the very people paid to be there when it matters most, walked away. 

"Yolanda and Chris Stevenson, who have spent years running the pub, were left to face the consequences alone. A home, a livelihood and a community hub were all under threat.

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"In Whissendine, the simple installation of a depth gauge would make a big difference to preventing cars from driving through when the roads are flooded and yet, for the life of me, I cannot get anyone to fund it or agree to it.

"In Langham, the same homes have flooded every single year since 2024, and properties that barely saw a drop of water in the years before now face a deluge.

"In Tallington, a storm left the sewage system and residents without working toilets or showers. 

"We also have Thurnby brook, which flooded in 2024 and 2025 following the storms, and the impact is still felt today. 

"These residents can easily be statistics, but we all know that each of them is a family with their own story. 

"These are the same communities that are about to have a 1,300-acre solar plant imposed on flood plains right next to their homes."

In the debate, Mrs Kearns called on the government to:

• do more to support local flood resilience groups
• ensure developers building new homes tackle flooding preemptively, or are held to account when this is not done sufficiently
• make water companies statutory consultees in the planning process

Emma Hardy (Labour), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding, responded during the debate.

She said: "For Rutland and Stamford, the Environment Agency is developing a new hydraulic model and hydrology for the catchment to provide further information and a foundation for future flood risk management in the area. 

"And yesterday, we announced a £1.4billion investment in flooding in 2026-27, which will help to protect tens of thousands of homes and businesses nationally, and funding for more than 600 flood schemes across the country, including upgraded barriers, embankments and natural flood management projects that slow the flow.

"It includes £5.5million for the lower risk debris screens project that will increase flood resilience Rutland and Stamford and constituencies, as part of wider investment across the East Midlands. 

"The government is committed to strengthening resilience to flooding. That not only keeps people safe, but supports economic growth in our rural and local communities across the country. 

"By protecting businesses, reducing disruption and safeguarding jobs, these measures contribute to stability and growth in the face of increasing climate change and flood risk. 

"The government's record investment in flood defences will benefit communities across the country."