TIVERTON and Honiton MP Neil Parish hosted the launch of a report in the House of Commons that examines the impact of extreme weather on the South-West.

The report particularly looks at the resilience of the transport network and makes conclusions and recommendations to government.

The destruction of the railway line at Dawlish and the plight of flood-hit communities on the Somerset Levels have underlined the severe impact extreme weather has on community resilience, transport, local government and the economy of the South-West.

The report, The South West – Extreme weather resilience: 2012 and early 2013, is the first detailed analysis of the wide-ranging impact of repeated severe weather events across the South-West.

Mr Parish, a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, said at the event: “I was pleased that the Secretary of State was able to give assurances that the study into a complementary line that would potentially make it much faster to get from Plymouth and Cornwall up to London would be completed over the next few months.

“I am keen to see the schemes to improve rail resilience announced by Network Rail last year are fully implemented and that there is long-term investment in flood and coastal defences.

“We may have taken a battering from the recent storms and this must be addressed, however, the South-West remains open for business and ready for visitors this Easter.”