Passion, or more likely anger, is standing in a baking hot community hall for nearly four hours demanding answers from those in charge over what went wrong.

That was the scene in Wainfleet as residents expressed their dismay at the events on June 12 onwards.

The meeting, which was due to end at 7pm went on until 9.30pm as it became clear those questioning the Environment Agency, the Drainage Boards and the councils felt they had been ignored for a number of years.

It began with an apology from the MP Matt Warman and others.

“De-silt the rivers” came the cry from the audience. “That wouldn’t have helped” came the EA’s response.

Of those I spoke to after, it was clear people remain unconvinced by the answers and efforts going forward - which included an independent review, extra funding for the area, and promises of closer working with residents.

And why should they be? We’ve been here before - Louth and Horncastle in 2007, Boston in 2013 - and each time residents have contested the experts’ opinions with local knowledge.

I remember sitting in the public inquiry into the now near-completed Boston Barrier shortly after the 2013 floods, listening to Boston fishermen argue their case for it being in the wrong location and needing a lock built in - again feeling ignored by those in charge.

As in many cases the problem is money, with agencies forced to prioritise the money they spend - a lock on the barrier costs extra, de-silting lower priority waterways as well as higher maintenance ones needs more cash.

It is good to hear that Mr Warman is pushing government for more funding, with some assurances from Michael Gove, but whether agencies choose the right priorities for those extra millions is a different matter. — DANIEL JAINES

How councils became the first point of call for climate emergency declarations

As climate change campaigners keep their grip on the political conversation on the environment, they’ve slowly turned their attention towards local government as a first point of call.

While Extinction Rebellion stormed the streets of London and brought the city’s commuters to a standstill, others formed their own pockets of demonstrations outside town halls and council buildings.

The goal is to call on councillors to declare a climate emergency and for authorities to follow with real action, such as reducing emissions.

Often towns and cities may go as far as to pledge to become carbon-neutral over the next decade.

More than 100 councils have passed such motions, but Lincolnshire is not one of them.

In fact, the county council rejected a call to declare an emergency and instead decided to “recognise” that there was a problem.

Naturally, the decision did not impress Extinction Rebellion who said the move was “not good enough”.

However, there will be a chance for another local authority in the region to declare a climate emergency.

Next week, councillors in North Kesteven will have a motion put before them calling on them to make the declaration.

While the idea of taking to local councils to spread the message of climate change may seem a small victory, it is part of a larger campaign.

Convincing hundreds of local authorities to declare a climate emergency culminated in MPs passing their own motion back in May.

While Lincolnshire has yet to commit to the same message, there is still efforts being made to change that.

The message may seemingly be an empty one and after all it is just a motion being passed in a council chamber.

But, if we have learned anything from decades of demonstrations by climate activists it’s that they will not let politicians forget their promises. — CALVIN ROBINSON

MEET THE LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTERS