MP Visits A Local Builders Merchant In Hull

It’s not every day that a Member of Parliament pops into a local builders’ merchant for a chat. But on Friday 17 October, that’s exactly what happened at MKM Building Supplies in Anlaby. Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, paid a special visit as part of Flood Action Week. And it wasn’t just for a photo opportunity. The visit was all about tackling a huge issue that affects thousands of people right across the UK, especially in places like Hull: flooding. It turns out that the place where builders get their supplies could be a key player in helping protect homes from the misery of flood water.

More than just a chat over a cuppa

This was a serious conversation about a serious problem. The whole point of the visit was to shine a light on something called ‘property-level flood resilience’. It sounds a bit technical, but it’s actually quite simple. It means making individual homes and buildings tougher and better prepared to handle a flood. Think of it like waterproofing your house from the outside in.

Emma Hardy didn’t come alone. She was joined by some key people who are all working to support local communities. Ian Pratt, the Branch Director at MKM Anlaby, was there to share his team's first-hand experience. Also present was David Millward, the Sales Director from Fernco, a British company that makes clever flood protection products. The whole event was supported by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), with Brett Amphlett, their Policy & Public Affairs Manager, helping to connect the dots between Parliament and the people on the ground who supply the builders.

This get-together was part of a much bigger review looking at how the UK can improve its flood resilience. And it makes perfect sense to start these conversations at local builders merchants. They're the ones who talk to the tradespeople and customers every single day and can help get the right information and products to the people who need them most.

A painful history with flooding in Hull

For anyone living in Hull, the threat of flooding isn’t just something seen on the news; it's a real and present danger. The city is one of the most at-risk places for flooding in the entire country, and the devastating floods of 2007 are still a painful memory for many. Thousands of homes and businesses were swamped, and the impact on local communities was immense.

The team at the MKM Anlaby branch knows this better than most. In its entire 29-year history, the branch has only ever had to close its doors early once. That was in 2007, because of the flood. But they were back open the very next day, not just to sell things, but to help. They were a vital hub, supplying sandbags and helping with the massive clean-up effort. This experience means they understand exactly what’s at stake.

During her visit, Emma Hardy talked about this very issue. She’s seen for herself how flooding can turn lives upside down.

“Flooding isn’t just a headline, it’s a reality for thousands of families, and I’ve seen first-hand the impact it has had right here in Hull. That’s why it was so encouraging to see a local business like MKM stepping up, not just selling the right products to help alleviate the potential for flooding, but starting the right conversations. They’re helping people think differently about flood resilience and act before it’s too late.”

From sandbags to smart solutions

When people think of flood protection, they usually picture stacks of sandbags. And while they can help, technology has moved on a lot. A big part of the event during Flood Action Week was showing off the modern solutions now available. The Anlaby branch set up a special display of flood protection products from manufacturer Fernco, making it easy for customers to see what’s out there.

So, what are these clever products? They include things like:

• Airbrick Covers: These are special plates that fit over the air bricks in your walls, stopping water from pouring through them into the space under your floor.
• Non-Return Valves: These can be fitted to pipes and drains to stop sewage from backing up into your home during a flood – which is just as awful as it sounds.
• Flood Barriers: These are lightweight, easy-to-install barriers that can be fitted across doorways to create a seal and keep water out.

It’s about being proactive, not just reactive. And that’s what the team at MKM wants to help people do. Ian Pratt, the Branch Director, explained their role.

“Flooding hits communities hard, and here in Hull, we’ve seen the consequences first-hand. That’s why we’re proud to do our bit — helping customers access the right flood resilience products and giving practical advice on how to better protect homes and properties. It was a privilege to welcome our local MP, Emma Hardy, and show her the work we’re doing to raise awareness, stock practical solutions, and support a more resilient future — not just in Hull, but across our nationwide branch network.”

Why partnerships are the way forward

The key message from the day was clear: no one can solve the problem of flooding alone. It takes a real team effort. The official information release about the event stressed that partnerships are essential. You need manufacturers like Fernco to design and create effective products. You need knowledgeable builders merchants like MKM to stock those products and give good advice to builders and homeowners. And you need support from government and organisations like the BMF to raise awareness.

David Millward from Fernco summed it up perfectly.

“We’re proud to work with MKM to make our flood protection range more accessible and visible to tradespeople, local authorities and homeowners. Partnerships like this — between manufacturers, merchants, and government — are essential if we’re to make flood resilience part of the everyday conversation in construction.”

Brett Amphlett of the BMF also highlighted how the response to flooding has to be local, because the impact is always felt locally. Local builders merchants are often the first port of call, not just for prevention but for recovery, too. After a flood, they supply everything from pumps and dehumidifiers to the plasterboard needed to rebuild. Their support for local communities is vital.

“The misery that flooding causes is inevitably local – and therefore the response must be local – from flood risk managers, builders’ merchants and others. Local merchants can provide what’s needed for immediate relief – followed by pumps, dryers, dehumidifiers and other materials and products in the resulting clean-up.”

So, an MP's visit to a builders’ merchant during Flood Action Week turns out to be a pretty big deal. It’s a sign that everyone is starting to recognise that preparing for the worst is a job for the whole community, and that the answers can often be found right on your local high street, or in this case, your local trade counter.