Water companies have been playing their part in helping to better protect 100,000 homes in the UK from flooding.
Environment minister, Thérèse Coffey made a statement to Parliament on Tuesday (19 December), which detailed the work the government has been doing following the National Flood Resilience Review.
She said: “We are better prepared this winter for flooding from all sources: The Environment Agency now has 25 miles of mobile flood barriers, 250 mobile pumps and 500,000 sandbags. These flood barriers and mobile pumps are ready to go anywhere in the country. This allows us to respond rapidly and flexibly to help protect communities, homes and businesses.”
She added: “The Budget announced an additional £76 million to be spent on flood and coastal defence schemes over the next three years. This boosts flood defence investment to over £2.6 billion by 2021. Our flood defence programme is protecting more and more homes across the country, and we have 100,000 homes better protected by the 350 new schemes completed in the last two years.”
Coffey also stressed the importance of looking ahead to future challenges, including surface water management. She explained changing weather patterns and population growth will impact on the risk of surface water flooding going forward.
She said: “Local councils have clear statutory responsibilities as Lead Local Flood Authorities to manage surface water flood risks and work in partnership with other risk management authorities, including highways authorities and water companies (who have a duty to effectively drain their area). Power and communications companies also have roles in managing the risks of disruption to essential services.”
Environment secretary, Michael Gove yesterday (21 December) said better protecting communities from flooding “continues to be a top priority for the government” as he opened a new £12 million flood defence scheme in Dawlish Warren. The scheme will reduce the flood risk to 2,800 homes and businesses around the Exe Estuary, as well as the main rail line into South Devon and Cornwall.
On the same day he announced work begin next year on another £12 million scheme just across the estuary, in Exmouth
In Coffey’s address to Parliament earlier in the week, she said there has been work across government to consider how surface water management may need to be strengthened, identifying five action areas: national position, effective collaborative working, skills, maps and data, and forecasting.
Proposals to support these areas will be considered by the Inter-Ministerial Group on Flooding early next year with a report outlining actions and an implementation timetable published in spring 2018.
Her department will co-host an event with Water UK in January to present the findings so far.