The funding system for flood defences is antiquated and leaves people in low-lying areas under persistent threat, says a top councillor.
East Sussex County Council leader Peter Jones has called on people and organisations to lobby ministers and MPs to change the system.
He said the cash-starved council would give the Environment Agency more money in 2002/03 than it received for flood defence from the Government.
He said the amount the council handed over had risen by 36 per cent during the last five years, while the grant it received for flood defence had risen by only 22 per cent.
Councillor Jones said: "We cannot continue with a situation where residents and the economy of important towns like Lewes are under persistent threat.
"It's an absurd system and it must change."
The council has been criticised for giving the Environment Agency less money than it wanted for 2002/03.
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