HE WAS in Hampshire to help David Cameron learn the lessons of the floods.

Government minister Greg Barker, who has been dubbed the Prime Minister’s special flood envoy, was looking to the future when he visited Winchester to discuss how a repeat of this winter’s flooding misery can be avoided.

Mr Barker met with representatives from Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Environment Agency yesterday to talk about the problems the city faced and what measures should be taken to prevent it happening again.

Councillors and officers walked with Mr Barker and local MP Steve Brine from the Guildhall to Water Lane, where there are still some sandbags, to Durngate Terrace and to Park Lane.

Mr Barker, minister in the Department for Energy and Climate Change, was shown images of the 70ft barrier erected there by the Army to hold back the water after the river burst its banks in early February.

He said: “It’s clear there was a great response by the community that avoided what could have been a disaster. The reason so many [houses] were safe was because of the actions of so many. I’m here to look at what’s needed to go back to the Prime Minister but I’m also going to look at what investment is required.

This is an important priority for the Prime Minister.

“We are absolutely on it and we’re working hand in glove with Steve Brine, who has been fantastic right the way through the flooding crisis, to ensure that Winchester gets the support it needs.”

More than 70,000 sandbags were deployed on roads and river banks across Hampshire during the wettest winter on record.

Homes were cut off at Water Lane and Park Lane while residents across the district, including Twyford, Kings Worthy and Hursley, were forced to continuously pump water from their homes.

A temporary road was built at Andover Road North over the flood water which had closed the road and many reported not being able to use their bathrooms and kitchens because of flooded sewers.

Mr Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford, said: “In February it was all about dealing with the crisis, and we have plans but I wanted to bring the minister here so he could take the lessons back to the Government.

“My message to the minister is Winchester learned the lessons in 2000 that, this time, without question, saved dozens of houses from flooding. But there are still infrastructure issues that I want to be raised.”

Hampshire County Council leader Cllr Roy Perry described the visit as “a good opportunity to share what we’ve learned from this winter, and what needs to be done next”.

He said: “We’ve already submitted 33 bids for funding for individual flood mitigation schemes.

“Government has given us £11.5 million for road repairs as a helpful first step and we’ll bidding further, given the estimated £25 million needed.

“We’ll be making clear our commitment to investing in Hampshire by continuing to fund an enhanced maintenance programme to improve the resilience of our 5,000 miles of road, and putting local capital funding forward to support grant bids for flood defence work.”