THE Furness MP has called for action to safeguard against coastal erosion and tidal flooding.

Conservative MP Simon Fell is taking the campaign to protect Walney Island from coastal erosion and tidal flooding to Government.

Mr Fell has sent a letter to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, after being contacted by a number of constituents who are concerned about the gradual erosion of Walney.

Mr Fell said: “In the worst weather, as we saw earlier this year, Walney Island splits in two and becomes impassable.

“Recent studies show that the island is at risk of being underwater by 2050.

"The environmental, human, and economic impact of doing nothing to prevent this would be disastrous.”

The letter comes on the back of the Government’s announcement that 336,000 homes will be better protected from flooding in England by 2027 as a result of a £5.7 billion investment.

Mr Fell has asked Mr Eustice to meet with him to discuss the urgent consideration for funding to mitigate against coastal erosion and tidal flooding on Walney.

Walney Channel is also used by BAE Systems to launch nuclear submarines.

Mr Fell said: “This channel risks being silted if the current progression of coastal erosion continues. Further to this, the former public landfill on South Walney spills decades-old household waste into the Irish Sea in the worst weather – which is an unsustainable and environmentally retrograde step."