LETTER: Flood mitigation scheme needed

In recent weeks I have been monitoring the flood situation in my constituency, regularly checking the local press for the latest story of yet another community affected by flooding.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Feb 2014, 08:00 BST

The warnings about the likely impacts of climate change - increased wind and rain for example - have been clear for many years now.

With those warnings in mind one must question why the Environment Agency, local councils and the Government are so surprised that flooding is becoming a regular occurrence.

Flooding threatens livelihoods and we know that tinkering with flood mitigation in isolated areas only sends the problem somewhere else.

It is time for the Government to work with local councils and the Environment Agency on a serious flood mitigation scheme across the country, rather than continuing to push the problem around hoping it might go away.

KEITH TAYLOR

Green Party MEP for South East England, CAN Mezzanine, 49-51 East Road, London N1 6AH