Sussex business leaders are demanding the Government invests more money in the county's flood defences.

Members of the chamber of commerce movement and business support organisation Sussex Enterprise have written to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The letter expresses the anger felt by many businesses which feel let down by Whitehall since floods devastated parts of the county in 2000.

It has been sent to Elliot Morley, the minister who visited Sussex after the floods and pledged investment for defences in Lewes and Uckfield.

Mark Froud, chief executive of Sussex Enterprise, Joanne Yates, president of Lewes chamber of commerce, and Mark Arno, president of Uckfield chamber of commerce, signed the letter.

Mr Froud said: "The Government has a clear duty to keep its word and to deliver the funding as promised. Since 2000, nothing concrete has been done to assist either Lewes or Uckfield in the way of flood prevention or damage limitation.

"At present, if we were to see a return to the high water levels of previous years the devastating impact on the towns would be as before. The Government and the Environment Agency would then have to accept a degree of responsibility."

The much-delayed construction of two large earth mounds in Lewes has been postponed until December due to a lack of funding.

Mr Froud said: "The decision has acted only to compound the frustrations of all concerned.

"With insurance rates already high and rising, businesses have been forced into a position where they can do little but wait and hope.

"We are waiting for an appropriate response from the minister. The Government must understand this is a problem that cannot be ignored any longer."

A Defra spokesman said it had approved the Environment Agency's £1.9 million Malling Brooks flood defence system in Lewes and was still developing the town's flood strategy.

A flood defence plan for Uckfield was also well under way.

Tuesday February 03, 2004