The
Government must not neglect maintenance of flood defences and watercourses if
homes, businesses and farmland are to gain better protection against future
flooding risk, warn MPs today in a report of an inquiry triggered by the recent
winter floods.
Launching its Report on Winter Floods, the Chair of the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Miss Anne McIntosh
said:
"We have repeatedly called on the Government to
increase revenue funding so that necessary dredging and watercourse maintenance
can be carried out to minimise flood risk, yet funding for maintenance remains
at a bare minimum. Ministers must take action now to avoid a repeat of the
devastation caused by the winter floods."
Maintenance and
dredging
The
Committee calls for fully funded plans to address the current backlog of
dredging and watercourse maintenance as well as to maintain the growing numbers
of man-made flood defences.
"Regular work to dredge and keep rivers clear can
be an essential flood prevention measure, yet this is exactly what gets
squeezed out when budgets are tight. The Government needs to recognise the
importance of regular maintenance work and put it on an equal footing with
building new defences" explains Miss Anne McIntosh.
Local knowledge
Miss McIntosh added
"local knowledge is key and flood risk management
priorities must reflect the local circumstances."
MPs
support the devolution of maintenance activity to internal drainage boards and
to local landowners, wherever possible. The Committee also urges the Government
to address the confusion over maintenance responsibilities through a widespread
education campaign.
Environment Agency funding cuts
The
Committee warns that it is essential that Environment Agency funding cuts do
not lead to unintended consequences where funding is redirected to one
operational area to the detriment of another. The Report also calls for a
reassurance from Defra that frontline flood jobs at the Environment Agency will
not be cut.
Funding budgets
The
Committee identifies the current split between capital and revenue budgets as a
major barrier to targeting funding according to local
priorities.
"We want clarity for everyone when it comes to
flood funding budgets" says Anne McIntosh. "We see no reason why the
Government cannot move to a total expenditure approach for flood funding to
allow more flexibility to spend in the most effective
way."
Further information