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A new chairman has been appointed to lead the Environment Agency.  

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chairman-of-the-environment-agency-announced

Philip Dilley, the former chairman of London-based professional services firm Arup Group, will take up the post in September. The current chairman is Lord Smith of Finsbury, the former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who will vacate the position at the end of his current term.  In what has been a difficult year for the Agency, Lord Smith refused to buckle under calls for his resignation after the floods that dogged large swathes of southern England at the start of the year. The Agency was accused of doing too little to protect homes from flood water …

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chairman-of-the-environment-agency-announced

ABI Says Current Flood Re Financial Management Rules ‘Unworkable’

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has deemed the current draft rules on the financial management of Flood Re as “unworkable if passed into law in the current state”. The draft secondary legislation was published, a move the ABI said marked another step forward in developing Flood Re.  However, Huw Evans, director of policy and deputy director general at the ABI, said: “Despite the fact that in discussions we have made some progress, the current draft rules on the financial management of Flood Re are not agreed with the industry and would be unworkable if passed into law in the current state …

Three-Quarters Of UK Flood Defences ‘Inadequately Maintained’

Three-quarters of the UK’s flood defences are being inadequately maintained due to budget cuts, putting homes at risk and storing up problems for the future, the government’s climate change advisers warned.  As many as 500 potential new flood defence projects around the country have also been put on hold, further threatening communities and businesses.  Houses continue to be built on flood plains, and householders are woefully unaware of the risks …         www.theguardian.co.uk 

Sewage Flooding Closes 9 Kent Beaches

Businesses have reacted angrily after swimmers were warned against going into the sea at nine beaches around Thanet following pumping station discharges. Thanet Council has advised people not to enter the sea.  Southern Water said it had done nothing wrong by releasing storm water from its stations. Beaches were closed in the same area over the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend  in 2012 due to sewage flooding. There were more sewage spills in May this year in Thanet …