Trust says wildlife v people debate is 'polarising'

A wildlife trust has said the "nature or people" argument is "polarising" after an MP accused the Environment Agency of prioritising animals over flood victims.

Paul Learoyd, chief executive of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, criticised the politicisation of the animals versus people argument put forward by Richard Tice, the Reform MP for Boston and Skegness.

Mr Tice said the Environment Agency cared more about "badgers and water voles" than about flood victims after around 40 homes were flooded in Wyberton, near Boston.

The Environment Agency said protecting "people and communities" was its "top priority", but added it had to follow laws to protect nature.

Mr Learoyd defended the Environment Agency and said it "took their responsibility incredibly seriously for protecting people and property."

He added: "I don't like to hear it being either or; that it's either nature or it's people and it has to be a battle of these things.

"It does feel very political. It's quite polarising."

It comes after Mr Tice told the BBC: "The priorities of badgers and water voles on river banks is treated more seriously than the welfare of residents, households and businesses."

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency responded: "We know the devastating impact that flooding can have, which is why protecting people and communities is our top priority.

"However we have to abide by the law when maintaining our flood defences, such as following the Protection of Badgers Act which protects badgers and their setts."

Mr Learoyd argued while flood victims should not take second place to the natural world, wildlife should be considered in every project.

"It doesn't stop projects. It might have to be a consideration, that's really important," he said.

He added that if wildlife was "forgotten about and ignored" it could delay the process of building flood defences and considering wildlife usually leads to better results.

Mr Learoyd referred to the Boston Barrage, which was was built against The Wash, one of Britain's most important winter feeding areas for waders and wildfowl, and said nature had not stopped it from being put in place.

"The answer was better when wildlife was brought into it," he adds.

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