UK Unprepared For Environmental Disaster Following Budget Cuts
Guardian ‘The country could be unprepared to deal with major environmental disasters because government jobs cuts have got rid of vital scientists and specialist staff, according to a senior public sector union official. Leslie Manasseh, the president of the TUC and deputy general secretary of the Prospect union, has described government ministers as “vulgarians of the highest order” who are trashing public sector staff and destroying vital national assets such as Kew Gardens, the Met Office and the Environment Agency, which deals with flooding. “It’s depressing, because they may only have a majority of 12, but imbued as they are with this incredible, male upper-class confidence, they don’t think that’s fragile at all,” he said …
Whistleblower Warns EA Cuts Mean Army Could Be Needed For Floods
Soldiers may need to be called upon if floods hit again, an Environment Agency (EA) whistle-blower has claimed in the wake of 1,000 job losses. While “front-line” staff were protected in a round of cuts last year, a worker from East Anglia has claimed pressure has been put on the emergency rota. While the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs was adamant a cut in staff numbers at the EA would not affect its ability to deliver key services, including better protection of 300,000 homes, the EA worker, who spoke to the EDP on condition of anonymity, said there would be a knock-on impact if the floods of 2013 and 2014 were to be repeated …
Taken from UK Flood News – sign up here phil@business-synergies.co.uk
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