UK Flooding
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35181139

I haven't really been following this too much but it suddenly seems to have moved from a bad situation to a disaster over Christmas. Homes have been destroyed and it's quite widespread.

The weather is going crazy. Daffodils in December, mass floods.

Re: UK Flooding
 

It just shows the power of Mother nature and whether or not u believe global warming is man made or a natural happening of the earth.

Here in Swansea we have had torrential rain and high winds. Its damaged the fencing between my property and next door and thankfully that's it, it can be fixed within 30mins but some of these people have lost almost if not everything.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Re: UK Flooding
 

This is on one of the main roads into Leeds, Kirkstall Road, just outside the Leisure Park where the Vue cinema is, which had to be evacuated (along with all the restaurants in the park).

Re: UK Flooding
 

Yup but this happens every so often. We need to have a long term plan to deal with flooding and maybe, if possible, something other than sandbags and walls. I heard an idea about transforming some rivers and using surges to create power as well as better funnelling water around - not sure how feasible that is.

Re: UK Flooding
 

My thoughts go out to the many who have suffered from the terrible flooding over the past few weeks.

Re: UK Flooding
 

It'd cost vast sums of money to do anything meaningful about the sort of flooding we're seeing here. It wasn't that long ago that we were talking about the need to spend equally large sums of money getting vast amounts of water from the north of England to the parched south only for large parts of the south to be flooded in 2014.

There are places in which river defences can be strengthened but that only shifts the problem elsewhere further downstream.

Re: UK Flooding
 

The long term plan should have been us and the previous selfish generation taking the climate seriously. This is going to happen more often and there's little we can do to stop it. We might already be past the point of no return with our climate, which govt.'s daren't admit.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Currently assessing if I need to or if I can actually get into the office in York (right on the river) we have flood barriers but water is seeping in

Problem is is both the a59 and the a19 have been shut theyre the two main routes in

Re: UK Flooding
 

What could have been spent had the MP NOT taken a scandalous 11% pay rise why most if they were lucky got 1%.

Mind you if any MP gets flooded they'll just claim back on expenses.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Probably not that much, not that I'm defending hypocritical greedy and corrupt MPs.

Sometimes govts, EA not dredging rivers, insufficient flood defences, immigrants ( weighing down the country no doubt !), or xyz aren't to blame. Nothing stops water. Fires in Australia and California too sending more carbon into the atmosphere in a viscious circle.

Maybe we are all to blame with our cars, flights, leccy guzzling computers and consumer lifestyle. I don't have an answer as I think its too late, really hope for my kids sake I'm wrong. At least we should try and radically change our lifestyles.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Since the pay rise costs £4.5 million per year, and it only came into effect in May 2015, I am not sure £3 million would have made much of a difference...

Re: UK Flooding
 

It is heartbreaking to see the damage to people's homes and businesses. How they recover from this is a miracle, I hope the government gives these people plenty help to allow them to get back to normality, If they can send millions to foreign countries surely they can help their own

Re: UK Flooding
 

Flooding happens year in and year out. We have residents who have lost everything due to the floods.

And yet each time we hear from a residents who says the same ' we have been let down by promises from various governments.

One resident even stated that one of the rivers was due to have it dredged, but this was cancelled due to cuts.

Doesn't the hypocrites of governments know that all they need to do is spend a few million throughout the years, to install flood barriers do dredging on a regular basis.

BUT, a major problem like in London, yes, we have the Woolwich barrier, but this is to protect the City of London.

But, we have people that have laid concrete for driveways, and totally got rid of grass. This causes flooding of streets, last year my road was approx. five inches deep in water as the drains were blocked and there was no where for the water to go.

I can just imagine tomorrow that Cameron will get heckled tomorrow, when he goes to the flood hit area's.

We need Investment in the Environment, NOT cuts

What Cameron can do is to spend some millions on HIS own people, instead of sending it abroad

Re: UK Flooding
 

As much as we all sympathise for the loss of life and property even the defences put in place since the last big floods are not enough. It's not about throwing money at everything is about tackling the root of the issue and that's global warming. That starts with us, not the gov, we're all to blame, every watt of energy we use from fossil fuels, every litre of fuel we put in our cars, every holiday we take and the planes that fly us to our exotic destinations.

Invest in the environment? What like?

Re: UK Flooding
 

Like dredging rivers

Re: UK Flooding
 

Dredging doesn't work, the minimal increase in flow of the river has no impact on the flooding as the water from the upstream catchment areas is far larger

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...ameron-farmers


J

Re: UK Flooding
 

Dredging alone might not but if we were investing in our environment instead of cutting all the time upstream drainage would be sorted at the same time. Still let's not worry, these freak weather events only happen once in a blue moon and Dave chaired a cobra meeting over the phone about it so that's sorted :erm:

Re: UK Flooding
 

We go through flood problems each year, when bad weather hits the UK. I used to work in Wraysbury, which was hit badly last year.
Its not just about Global warning. Its about investment - something this and previous governments have forgotten about.
We spent millions on saving the financial section of London by building the Woolwich Barrier.

That was to protect the City of London. If there is a surge of tide up the Thames Estuary, the first place to get hit by flood water is Kent. That would be devastated.
I live near a river, and the river Thames.

We need investments in all area's that local councils feels it needs protecting.

Just heard on the radio that a councillor in Lancashire warned Cameron and Co several years ago that the area was a disaster waiting to happen.

The Environment agency has been cut over the years.

Put it this way, in Scotland, they have more rainfall than any other part of the UK. Does that suffer heavy flooding.

Maybe the members in Scotland can answer that one

The UK need investments on flooding.

Re: UK Flooding
 

It doesn't matter how much or how little rain there is, if it is low lying flat land near a river then it will flood no matter what. Many areas don't see flooding because they are above see level. Look at hills or valleys for a start. I know I studied geography but I thought things like that would be common sense.

Down the road from me where the Clde flows between Rutherglen and Dalmarnock the road regularly floods and recently was that bad the road was impassable and the Tesco superstore was inaccessible for a couple of days!

Also there have been flood defences put in place to a lot of regularly flooded areas but sometimes there is even too much water that the defences aren't enough.

You really don't show much grasp of reality sometimes.

Re: UK Flooding
 

I have just googled various sites on how to prevent flooding. And loads of sites have come up with ideas and methods.
And people say this cannot be done.

Yes, it cost money, but if you take into account how much money is lost. Just think how much can be saved.

The best site l found was The BBC

So it can be done.

Re: UK Flooding
 

We all know it can be done. It has been done in may parts of the UK but sometimes the flood waters get past the protection. Nothing is 100%

Also after last year the Government promised £2.3 Billion to help

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30282701

Re: UK Flooding
 

Indeed. Having cut flood defence alongside a pile of other capital expenditure the government reinstated some.

Sadly the programme to protect Leeds City Centre from the Aire came too late. Shelved in 2011, only restarted this year with a reduced scale, cut by two thirds. The resultant economic damage will likely dwarf the programme cost.

Another fantastic side effect of the clueless, cack-handed cuts to capital projects made in the early part of last Parliament because they were 'easy', despite being economically illiterate.

Guess we will never know if, had funding been maintained and a thousand flood defence projects not stalled, it would've been competed or enough.

Edit: Although a completed section of the project apparently saved the part of the city behind it, Granary Wharf.

As the Yorkshire Evening Post notes, a northern powerhouse isn't much use when it's under water. The largest legal and financial centre in England outside of London, with a growing, diversifying economy in services and retail providing the power plant for the regional economy has been brought to a shuddering halt for the sake of what is small change compared to the huge investments in London and the Thames Valley.

That'll teach us for largely voting Labour here.

From 2011:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12402284

http://gregmulholland.org/en/article...flood-defences

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pa...ionScheme.aspx

Re: UK Flooding
 

I said yesterday that Cameron would be criticised by the Media today. Even The Sun (a conservative paper) said that he should have done more.

Several residents have said exactly the same - if we were an overseas country, we would have the extra money and help.

There are things that can be done to prevent flooding.

Now tonight several parts of Tewkesbury has been flood due to the River Severn reaching very high levels.

Its about time Cameron and his puppets put there money where there mouth is and got stuck in.

Recall Parliament from there holidays, and get them down to these flood areas to help with the clearing up

I hope it floods in parts of Oxford where Cameron lives, he will soon get off his backside to clean up the mess

---------- Post added at 19:33 ---------- Previous post was at 19:32 ----------

And thank you to Cable Forum for my birthday wishes. I have had a great day with my wife of 38 years, and my family

xx

Arthur

Re: UK Flooding
 

Again you live in a fantasy world Arthur.

The army are already there helping. Why would MPs go and help rescue/clean up?

Also why would us being another country mean we would have the money?

Now you are saying you want loads of people in Oxford to get flooded?? That is pretty out of order!

Re: UK Flooding
 

Stephen. Yes the army are there, but if MPs went there. It would show them what residents have got to put up with.

As for the people of Oxford. I believe that David Cameron lives in Chipping Norton area. So IF, they were flooded. And l do know that the areas are subject to flooding.

I used to work in Oxford, David Cameron would sought it out straight away.

Oxford resident's are lovely people.

Re: UK Flooding
 

"Their insurance will pay" is what I hear every time there is a flood. Well not here they won't and this is an "site of historic flooding" and they won't even offer cover.

And the last floods we had were in the early 60's before 4 metre dykes were built to hold it back most years.

And if you were lucky to get flood insurance and have made a claim, don't expect it to be as cheap on renewal.

Re: UK Flooding
 

it's not the rivers that are the problem it is the people that move next to them. they want to build 300 new houses in and around Kirstall smack bang in the area that got flooded...well good luck to that.

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I would suggest that David Cameron spending more time in Leeds than was necessary earlier wouldn't be constructive. In my experience he's about as popular in many parts of the city as herpes.

Seriously it makes no difference whether MPs are there or not. They can watch the news just as we can. I'd far rather appropriate measures had been taken, and now a commitment is made to ensure that this never, ever happens again to any major urban centre. There is absolutely no excuse for this to happen in our cities.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Herpes is popular in leeds isn't it, everyone seems to have it :)

Stop worrying, Dave had a cobra meeting over the phone and has been up there with his serious frowny face on, it'll be fine

Re: UK Flooding
 

This man talks a lot of sense.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/...-keep-10580092

Re: UK Flooding
 

I'm still trying to figure out why this or previous governments are to blame for acts of God.
Don't get me wrong I do sympathise with those that are affected by the current crap weather some areas of the country are suffering but why should a person or entity be blamed for something that can't be forecast.
What if we built a flood wall along/around anywhere that has seen anything in excess of 1ft of water and after 10, 20 or 30 years it was never ever needed, the same people who complain and blame governments for not spending the money would be complaining that they wasted money on building the walls that were never needed.
As I said before what's happening could be the result of our neglect of mother earth. I'm not a greenie or a tree hugger but over the last 400 years we have raped and pillaged this planet to a point where we are all to blame in some way, shape or form for the current climatic changes.
Do we ever think of stopping our use of fossil fuels? No course we don't, we give it creature comforts far too much to give them up but are quick to criticise governments for not doing enough.

Re: UK Flooding
 

I think there are TWO points to make here, and we can blame various governments. Who come out with the same old crap going.

The government spend more money on Oversea's aid and are proud to commit even more our OUR money to give.

And some of these countries, this aid is FOR FLOODS. We must send aid out to more than TWENTY countries.

Approx three years ago THE SUN or THE DAILY STAR, produced a survey of how much money we send abroad.

It went into BILLIONs.

IF David Cameron said right. I will stop the aid going to TWO countries, and this money would be spent on Flood Defences in the UK.
Big problem there would be, he would offer the contracts out. And gurranteed the contracts would go to a foreign country

Its true what l was reading today, and on Sky News. Cameron went and spoke with several people in the Flood area's but didn't stay to long and some resident's stated that it was 'planned where he went' to avoid protesters.

Like the woman shouting out from a window 'stop the cuts' The Environment Agency has had it funding cut.

Cameron and Co should listen to the people that live in these area's

---------- Post added at 20:52 ---------- Previous post was at 20:45 ----------

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...ickets-7088473

How about this for an overzealous Traffic Wardens. The council have voided the tickets. But how stupid they are

Re: UK Flooding
 

ARthur, yet again you bring up stopping foreign aid and yet again I will tell you budgets for these things are worked out seperately and also giving aid and financial support to other countries is important as it means we get money in return. Not to mention that it helps with trade between countries too.

So stop helping others and there would be severe repercussions.

Sometimes you seem to live in your own wee world.

Re: UK Flooding
 

We are a rich country, despite what you may hear. Overseas aid is 0.7% of our GDP - diddly squat to us, but makes a significant difference where its needed; we can be proud of it.The MOD is where big money could be saved, stop getting involved in pointless conflicts, which solves nothing, made things worse and us less safe. Massive waste of life and money.

As for flooding - everyone wants to blame someone else but we're all responsible. The climate is changing and we all as individuals have contributed. Flood defences/more money just poor sticking plasters that will ultimately fail. We're not treating the cause.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Instead of saving money why not go after those avoiding copious amounts of tax instead, then there might be a few quid err floating about And the government could admit that they've fiddled the figures released and that flood defence spending has been cut. Actually scrap that it's not either or re tax or saving do both, responsibly.

Jenny jones said something that caught my attention earlier to, plant more trees, make more driveways with ply able materials and accept that we can't save all the land and set aside areas that can be flooded without it causing harm. Seems simple and sensible to me, perhaps to simple.

Re: UK Flooding
 

We keep hearing this is a rich country. Why do we have people sleeping on the streets, not enough food to eat, People living on low wages etc. Not enough houses being built, NHS a mess, Someone is filling their pockets,

Re: UK Flooding
 

Possibly. Or it could be due to El Nino this time :shrug:

Re: UK Flooding
 

Art has always lived in his own wee world, pop-1

---------- Post added at 00:18 ---------- Previous post was at 00:17 ----------

Agreed

---------- Post added at 00:29 ---------- Previous post was at 00:18 ----------

With the current El Nino, strongest in 40 years apparently, warmer seas in the intervening years due to global warming increases the strength of the severe El Nino's which changes weather patterns around the world.

I don't think we have seen the end of the storms for this season but as the effects weaken in the northern hemisphere we'll see some rather cold snow storms in late Feb/March as the jet stream gets pushed south.

Re: UK Flooding
 

And what's caused the particularly strong El Nino?

Re: UK Flooding
 

There is an increasing and unnecessary tendency for Arthur's views to be treated with contempt or addressed with some kind of barb when it is clear that Arthur speaks from the heart and as such is a valuable forum contributor.

It is possible to impart knowledge and understanding to others without condescension. When mods join in the berating, the pack mentality is complete.

Ladies and Gentlemen, have some manners. None of us are experts and those prepared to wear their heart on their sleeve deserve no less respect than those who consider themselves higher up the 'cleverness' scale.

Happy New Year :).

Re: UK Flooding
 

l always try to be civil to everybody even though l might not disagree with their views and opinions as that's the least we can be to each other in my book.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Nope, it's been that way for several years now

Well if he changed the record once in a while from " evil Tories" then people wouldn't roll their eyes so much.

Re: UK Flooding
 

A fair comment for Arthur to take note: it works both ways after all.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Among other things a record low in solar activity.

Re: UK Flooding
 

I have taken everything on board concerning my opionon.

I will say again. Thie government has made severe cuts to everything, and yet feeds MPs with an 11% pay increases. Multi Millionaires with the MPs little group, are getting richer.

And yet, when it comes down to Joe Bloggs etc. We have to settle for 1%. They have made cuts to everything, including the Environment Agency which covers flooding.

What the government should do is LISTEN to local communities that are besides Rivers, build defences.

As soon as disasters happen in other countries, we are quick to jump on the goodwill bandwagon and send BILLIONS to these countries.


When it comes down to the UK, and those poor people who have lost everything in the floods. What Cameron has to do is to fund those people NOW, not six months or year. Such as Wraysbury.

Trouble is that you only every see an MPs is when they want your vote.

I feel for those poor people, and now the flooding it hitting parts of Scotland.
This is not down to Climate change, the thing that this government should do is Think, Learn and Listen to the people.

If local people that there area could be a flood problem, then MPs should seek there councils advice. And then act. Not wait till the damage has been done

I was shown a picture of a part of Devon today that is being hit by flooding

Re: UK Flooding
 

Again its not all down to this government, but also the previous 2 or 3 governments that made cuts in budgets diverting money elsewhere. It takes year of cutting funding, it doesn't just happen overnight. Also as I posted earlier after the flooding last year there was an announced increase in spending on flood defences of which some where built but the flood waters still rose above them and destroyed them.

It is down to climate change. The flooding hasn't happened just because money has been cut. Flooding is getting more frequent due to the change in climate.

You saw a photo? I saw first hand today flooding in and all around Glasgow and Scotland. Overton Park a 5 min walk from my house was flooded. The streets near Hampden were all flooded too.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...74&pnref=story

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

Re: UK Flooding
 

Stephen, How do you know its Climate Change - are you a scientist. If you believe in all this climate change rubbish. Your'll believe that a pink elephant will land at Glasgow Airport.

Or will you believe that the Ice Bergs melting will increase the water levels.
You tell the people that are being flooded by burst banks.

In fact, l know an area of Chiswick and Twickenham, that gets flooded regular. As you are in Glasgow, there it an area in Chiswick by the Fullers Brewery that gets flooded at High Tide.
The residents there have put in FLOOD DEFENCES, which work. I have seen first hand of this.

Near where l live, by Twickenham Lock. and the Park gets flooded at High Tide. What do they do. Lower the flood gates and this prevents flooding.

It does not take a magician to work things out.

IF you build these defences, they work. It is not causes by climate change.

I was brought up by the River Thames, but defences are in place to prevent flooding.

Not everything is simple, but you have to invest money into projects. Sadly this government wont invest in these projects

If you think if drains are not cleared on a regular basis. this will cause flooding. Like last year, my road was flooded, and several days later the council came along when it was too late.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Arthur, how do you know medicine works - are you a doctor?

How do you know electricity works - are you a physicist?

Re: UK Flooding
 

The strong El Nino is mainly caused by much warmer than normal waters in the Pacific, and the hottest year we've had on this planet since records began. The climate is warming faster than the the most pessimistic forecasts, and that is worrying.

Doing the 'blame game' is missing the much bigger picture of the climate change crisis facing the planet and what we ALL need to do NOW. Its not up to somebody else to solve, we all need to solve it.

The 3rd World will suffer most initially, but doubtless we aren't too concerned about that. At least we have the resources to respond to these emergencies, many countries don't. The only crisis we'll be worried about is the resultant immigration one.

By the time the whole world does wake up to it and takes unified action it'll be too late, if it isn't already.

Think my Xmas spirit has gone already :(

Re: UK Flooding
 

Such ignorance is truly breathtaking.

climate change is very real, it's what the Earth does.

Previously we were covered in ice, or you could walk from Dover to Calais as he sea levels were lower.

The climate changes continuously, now whether you believe that human activity is adding to the speed of change, is another argument.

But climate does change. Irreversible fact. Ooh look, an elephant!

Re: UK Flooding
 

I am not but as others have said climate change is real, I have studied geography among other things and understand climate and the weather.

---------- Post added at 09:07 ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 ----------

Well put Hugh.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Something that crept in under the radar is that in 2000 the then (Labour) government signed up to an EU environmental directive that precludes dredging of any river except main navigations upon pain of massive fines from Brussels. You know, preservation of bird habitats, mussel beds, fishing etc etc. This is why so many water courses have become silted up, of course it is convenient for El Gov as it saves money but maybe peoples ire should be partly directed at our masters in Brussels.

Sorry I can't give the link but I'm on a narrow band connection that means searches take forever but the story was in today's Sun and the editorial amongst other places.

Re: UK Flooding
 

There are many European directives, many are not from the EU but from OSPAR. Habitats Regulations, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, MPA's SAC's etc.

I think you are trying to refer to the water framework directive.

As with all these directives nothing is banned. If the river needs to be dredged or cleared it can be, but the proper assessment has to be done before hand.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Well done for not allowing people to perpetuate the myth that the EU is responsible for all our regulations and for telling us what to do. People also forget that EU regulations, and the regulations and judgements issued by unrelated bodies like the ECHR, are often initiated by us and that we have up to 10% representation on these bodies.

On the subject of dredging there has been a lot of misinformation put about. e.g. The authorities were criticised for not allowing dredging on the Somerset Levels because water voles were being put before people. In fact, voles live on quite back waters on smaller water courses up stream. Also dredging upstream would be a very bad idea because that allows rainwater to get down to the flood plains much quicker. Water needs trapping and slowing in the hills, not speeding up.

---------- Post added at 11:28 ---------- Previous post was at 11:24 ----------

There is no conflict between foreign aid and flood prevention and relief at home. There is enough cash to go around. Blaming Johnny Foreigner is a smoke screen set up by those who would divert our attentions away from those who withhold profit taxes or grab the larger part of the cake before the crumbs even get as far as the public purse.

Well-targeted foreign aid, apart from being the right moral thing to do, is also an investment in our future business partners and is an investment in our security. Those who want us out of the EU would do well to remember that we will be depending on friendly relations with these needy countries more than ever when we come to renegotiate all our trade deals.

Also money spent on mitigating the effects of global warming is money well spent if it means that less people will be migrating towards Europe from threatened coastal plains and river deltas or from sub-Saharan Africa.

Re: UK Flooding
 

It can happen :shrug:

Re: UK Flooding
 

Revealed: how Tory cuts are wrecking UK flood defences

Oh dear ...

Re: UK Flooding
 

Good article

Re: UK Flooding
 

Don't take this as gospel but it's interesting.

Perhaps if the taxpayer were to stop funding deforestation, removal of heather to improve grouse shooting for Hooray Henrys, subsidy of farming on land that's unviable for farming but great to hold water, and indeed removal of a whole bunch of 'flood defence' that nature provides to then pay for entirely artificial defences and clean up that'd be a good start.

We need to co-operate with nature, not spend money buggering it up in one place to then spend more money trying to fix it elsewhere. The current policies are simply moronic on each and every level and the government has shown little interest in fixing it which is unsurprising when it's as infested with an old boys' network and vested interests as this one is.

Incidentally that's not a partisan jibe. I'm sure that we've had other governments as equally beholden to vested interests and it's just not been as easy to track those interests due to no Internet.

---------- Post added at 19:07 ---------- Previous post was at 19:04 ----------

Hah. In the UK the taxpayer subsidises water management programmes that keep agricultural land, grouse farms, etc, dry at the expense of flooding of towns downstream.

Re: UK Flooding
 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a6794286.html

And the cost? £2 million..

Re: UK Flooding
 

The article mentioned by Ianc99, is what l have been saying all along.

The Tories have been in power for six years now, and cuts are there everyday affair. And this is what happening. IF you cut this and that, this is what will happen each time there is heavy rain or bad weather.

What will happen when we get really heavy know - flooding. The poor resident's of towns up and down the UK that live near rivers. They will suffer again.

The Government has to put money into building better flood barriers.

And people will now say that l am battering the Tories again. Well lets put it this way. He has to look after his own country first and foremost.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Cuts were made way before the Tories got in!

Simple solution is never buy a home on a flood plain or near a river.

Its not just the poor residents that are affected. Rich people live near rivers too.

Re: UK Flooding
 

You couldn't make it up

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weat...r-repairs.html

Re: UK Flooding
 

Indeed both governments are to blame.:(

Re: UK Flooding
 

So where do you suggest people live given that in some areas about the only places where the local NIMBYs will tolerate building is flood plains?

This is far from a simple solution. Who sits on planning committees? Councillors. What's always a vote winner? Pandering to NIMBYs and BANANAs by pledging to keep house prices high 'preserve the local environment'.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Build new homes on raised platforms or stilts?

Maybe even floating platforms so they raised with the water level?

Re: UK Flooding
 

If homes do need to be built where it floods them maybe they do need to learn from places that have the same issue and build using "stilts" or other forms of raising the structure.

Anyone who has lived abroad knows that infrastructure and structures are built to suit conditions. So they have big storm drains because rain usually falls in short but heavy bursts so need to clear it away quickly. Houses are built above ground level so not damaged by the flooding that will happen.

We live in a more temperate climate hence any major deviation causes chaos and demands from those affected. Snow, wind, rain, drought whatever, we are just not equipped to cope with extremes that only happen very infrequently in any single area. And people don't want to spend huge amounts on things that may not happen. As already mentioned if millions (more likely much more than that) were spent to protect and the event didn't happen then people would complain that they misspent it.
(Look at the Y2K issue - I was part of a coding team to fix Y2K issues for a hospital so I know it was a real problem - millions were spent to prevent problems and when the problems didn't happen people complain it was spent for naught and that was to fix a one time event that would have caused real issues. Same mentality. Even if the defences were needed someone would say too much was spent because it worked too well.)

Re: UK Flooding
 

the problem is building in flood plains

I live in Newport ( south wales ) we have a river with at maximum a 13 meter tidal range

the reason we don't flood often ( it has happened ) is because we have hundreds of years of flood planning with the Gwent levels and their many reens ( water ditches ) plus decades of walls and tunnels and pumping stations

just dredging or sticking a few dams in place will not protect you when you build on the part that was meant to flood

the idea that its any one government fault or that any one government could fix it is far fetched unless you throw unlimited cash at it and even then water will likely still win in the end if you try to do short term fixes

Re: UK Flooding
 

I agree with Tweetie (I also worked on a Y2K project team)

Reality is, the climate changes, it changed before man, it'll change after man, perhaps if we spent less time as a species bickering about who did what, and actually adapted our practises around Nature, we might get on better.

Meandering rivers are an option, as are leaky dams, temp water run off areas etc.

Whilst some people are stuck with living underwater, many more aren't, I do despair when you get morons going on about their 'wonderful river view' then crying when their property goes submarine, why would anyone (who has a choice) willingly set up house in an area known for flooding , and since the year 2000 it's happened enough times in the usual places for people to be in the know.

Re: UK Flooding
 

'Bickering about who did what' is kinda crucial when you consider that the changes that are happening now have never before occurred so rapidly through natural causes. ( I discount apocalyptic events like asteroids and super volcanoes here.) The evidence that our contribution of greenhouse gases is the crucial factor, in this rapidly evolving trend towards warming, is overwhelming. Keeping the global rise below 2C, if that is still possible, may just prevent catastrophe.

Your second point I agree with. At the same time as accepting the blame for adding to existing climate change, we must learn to mitigate against the effects by working with nature as much as possible. Those building along rivers in the past did so knowing that they might get away with a once in a 100 years event, and enjoy the benefits of riverside living. This was not just recreational, because rivers were once a crucial source of water, food and transport. This is why most of our towns are adjacent to rivers. However, today we may be seeing a cluster of 'once in a 100 years' events, possible caused by global warming, and getting worse as time goes by. We no longer need to live along rivers, (our infrastructures allow us to build and thrive anywhere), so we just stop doing it!

Meanwhile we have to decide what towns and what assets are capable of being saved having taken all the flood prevention measures we can. Would we want flood barriers higher than the properties they are supposed to protect? No, probably not. Would we want some farmland turned into permanent wetlands to protect the towns below. Probably. Some farmland and some riverside assets may just have to be let go.

Translate our minimal UK problems into those we see in low altitude islands, in coastal plains, river deltas and lowland countries and we can see why we should be spending even more in aiding those locations regardless of who is to blame. We are talking about the possibility, as sea levels rise and as river flooding increases, of having to relocate billions of people, not just from developing countries either. I have not mentioned drought yet! Sea and river defenses and water supply schemes are the only thing that may buy us time over the next two generations. The consequences for economics, politics, culture and society generally of having to relocate all those people, (refugees and migrants), doesn't bear thinking about; yet we have to think about it.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Environment Agency boss resigns.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35285020

Re: UK Flooding
 

About time too.

Re: UK Flooding
 

Can't really see the point of him resigning, bit of a media witch hunt and a convenient scapegoat for the Govt. He didn't cause the rain or climate change, he didn't cause his own budget cut.

A new mug in charge won't be any better - just somebody else to blame when the next floods come. We're not dealing with the real issues at all, a typical British blame somebody response.

Re: UK Flooding
 

I agree with K, just a convenient scapegoat for gullible muppets

Re: UK Flooding
 

Just as the last one was.

Re: UK Flooding
 

I hope they reject his resignation and sack him. Who in their right mind goes on holiday just when your needed, he had all summer to go on holiday and if he had he would've been there to led his people and then the questions could've been asked of government that still haven't been answered and will only get answered the next time a major town is underwater