We have received hundreds of responses to our petitions against the Environment Agency's River Trent Flood Plan which proposes increasing flood risk in the Isle of Axholme, Burringham and Gunness areas. Hundreds of local people have returned our petitions and many of them have thanked us for informing them about this plan.

The plan would reduce flood risk management locally by ruling out any improvements to the River Trent bank (such as at Owston Ferry where I am pictured) or maintenance of the local pumping stations. I recently attended the Axholme Drainage Board meeting who have made a very strong objection to these proposals.

Sadly, Labour locally have tried to politicise this issue by launching a series of very nasty attacks on those who are opposing plan. We have come to expect this sort of behaviour which in this case is a bit odd as these plans are being drawn up at the behest of the Labour Government.

This is an issue we all need to work together on; that's why we will ignore Labour's negative tactics which local people have come to expect. We must all work together for the interests of our area and that is what we will continue to do.

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has signed the petition and showed their support for our local area. Anyone who wants to add their name to the petition can do so by e-mailing me on brigg.goole@gmail.com or by calling our local office.