A Bucks MP said she is "committed" to protecting Marlow waterways from flooding and sewage discharge amid local concern.

Joy Morrissey, MP for Beaconsfield and Marlow, said she is "committed" to protecting local waterways from Thames Water sewage discharge and flooding.

Despite previously gathering criticism for signing a controversial environmental bill against preventing private companies from offloading sewage into UK waterways, Mrs Morrissey said she recognises the vital importance of safeguarding the local environment. 

"With the schemes in place from Buckinghamshire Council, Marlow will have access to the information and support needed to deter flooding. 

"My commitment to protecting Marlow's waterways and fighting sewage discharge is steadfast. Together with local leaders and organisations, I want to work towards ensuring that Marlow remains a beautifully dynamic town with a strong infrastructure for generations to come."

Alongside supporting the Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works Liaison Committee, which aims to hold Thames Water accountable for dumping sewage into the Thames, Mrs Morrissey also praised the Newt Ditch Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme and Project Groundwater, initiatives introduced by Bucks Council to tackle flooding.

Project Groundwater is a six-year plan to support areas around the Chilterns that are at a high risk of groundwater flooding - a phenomenon which occurs when an excess to the water table causes it to rise upwards, damaging properties and overwhelming sewage and drainage networks. 

The project, which is focused on providing educational and mangement help to at-risk communities, was announced shortly after the Newt Ditch scheme, which aims to reduce flood risk to residential and non-residential properties around Marlow through construction work slated to commence in 2025.

However, the long-term perspective taken by the council initiatives has been criticised by some for its failure to address the immediate impact of local flooding.

Marlow resident Steve Webb said Fieldhouse Lane in Marlow has been experiencing "the worst flooding in 11 years" after heavy downpour in recent months, with the most recent flood-induced road closure put in place on April 12.

On March 31, Bucks Fire and Rescue officers helped to pump water across Fieldhouse Lane, to an area where drains were empty. Mr Webb said one officer told him it should not fall to the fire brigade to provide continued flood relief efforts.

He suggested that a pump could be permanently located on-site, triggered by rising water levels to redirect water across the roadway. 

“The residents of Fieldhouse Lane have tolerated ‘inconvenient’ flooding for many years, but the situation has worsened significantly in recent months. We are now facing more regular, severe and unpredictable flooding which is threatening to breach homes. It is no longer just ‘inconvenient’.

"The earliest we can expect an effective solution is from the Newt Ditch project in 2025, but we need something that can be implemented right now."