We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Environment Agency will have 'too much power' to handle floods
THE NFU has expressed concern over the extent of the powers being granted to the Environment Agency in the Government’s new Flood and Water Management Bill.
The Bill, which had its First Reading in Parliament last Thursday, addresses many of the recommendations from Sir Michael Pitt’s report on the 2007 floods.
It will give the authorities that manage flood risk more powers, putting local authorities in charge of dealing with local flood risk and the Environment Agency in charge of overseeing flooding and coastal erosion nationally.
NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said the NFU applauded the aims of the Bill and understood why EA had been given the co-ordinating role.
“However, we consider that the Bill’s provisions are power heavy and duty light, both in terms of the agency’s strategic overview role and its operational activity,” he said.
He claimed there was a ‘strong sense of disconnection’ between the agency and those affected by flooding on the ground and that there has been ‘inadequate investment in the maintenance of rivers and defences’. He urged the agency to publish its maintenance schedules and risk assessments used in determining its approach.
He also expressed concern that new clauses extending the scope of the Reservoirs Act to include reservoirs of 10,000 cubic metres or more could enable ‘unnecessary additional costs and bureaucracy’ to be put in place in relation to small on-farm reservoirs.
Defra Secretary Hilary Benn said the Bill would provide better management of flood risk, clarify responsibilities, protect water supplies, and safeguard community groups from unaffordable rises in water bills.
Mr Benn, who visited Cumbria on Friday, 24 hours after the Bill was published, said: “We must do everything we can to try to reduce the chances of something like the 2007 happening again.”
He said the measures in the Bill, which was heavily criticised by the EFRA committee, would build on the action the Government had taken since 2007.
This included the completion of 106 flood defence schemes by the EA and the ‘record’ £2.15 billion investment over the current three year spending period on flood and coastal erosion defence.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) described the Bill as a ‘missed opportunity’.
Readers' comments (3)
Anne Alkham | 25 November 2009 3:06 pm
When the Environment Agency took over from the National Rivers Authority it was a disaster both for farmers and for landowners. After so many avoidable floods the EA has demonstrated it is not fit for purpose. Farmers need to lobby to rid the country of this unaccountable, unelected quango and replace it with an organisation that will work to protect their crops, livestock and livelihoods.
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Anonymous | 21 December 2009 10:54 pm
I am a member of an internal drainage board. The message as far as I all can see is to protect towns and cities from floods at the expense of farm land. rural areas have very few votes compared to large conurbations
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Anonymous | 1 October 2010 2:13 pm
Shouldn't the anger in the previous comments be better directed at the planning authorities that allow building in the flood plain? If the houses weren't there the tax payer wouldn't have to spend millions trying to protect them when the river is just doing what it should the clue is in the name FLOODplain!
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