WHAT a difference a week makes. Seven days ago, it looked like there was good news for flood-hit residents in the Buckskin area of Basingstoke.

However, as is so often the case, the devil is in the detail, and this week it became clear that money is not set to start flowing before 2018 – and even then, there are various hurdles to be overcome before the cash tap is turned on.

Sadly, Mother Nature may not be so reticent when it comes to holding back the rain in the intervening years.

Hampshire County Council is being asked to develop a business case that will show what benefits will result from an action plan to avert future flooding, and the local authority will need to secure funding support from other partners.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller and Hampshire county councillor Stephen Reid have both said they are working on getting money released before 2018. That is helpful, but the fact remains that the money, and action, is needed now.

Alan Stone, UKIP’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Basingstoke, and Labour candidate Dr Paul Harvey have both criticised the funding delay.

Dr Harvey is right when he says: “It is bitterly disappointing that there are so many catches to what needs to be a simple commitment to the people of Buckskin, and it is wrong to raise people’s hopes and dash them.”

In the run-up to the General Election, we will be bombarded with promises and pledges from politicians of all parties. However, what matters is the delivery of positive action, and when it comes to cash support to avert future flooding, the people of Buckskin are being badly let down.