The Environmental Audit Committee publishes report finding that the Government is failing to protect communities at risk of flooding.

• Report: Flooding: Cooperation across Government
• Report: Flooding: Cooperation across Government (PDF 1.11 MB)
• Inquiry: Flooding: Cooperation across Government
• Environmental Audit Committee

Funding for flood defences

The Committee warns that a reactive approach to funding for flood defence exposes the Government’s lack of long-term strategic planning to manage flood risk. The Committee found that funding fluctuates year-on-year. During the last Parliament funding was initially cut and only increased after the winter 2013/2014 floods.

Mary Creagh MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, said:

“We know that flooding is projected to get worse and occur more frequently because of climate change, so it just isn’t good enough for Government to react to flooding events as they occur. Communities at risk deserve certainty from Government.” 

Condition of critical flood defences was in decline

The Committee also found that the condition of critical flood defences was in decline. The independent Worsfold review demonstrated a relationship between flood maintenance spending and the good condition of critical have terrible consequences for residents and businesses when defences fail. As the money required to maintain these defences was cut, the number of defences which met the Environment Agency’s required condition also declined.

Mary Creagh said:

“The Government needs to put money into the upkeep of existing flood defences as well as investing in new defences. Failure to do so can   “Any decline in the condition of critical flood defences represents an unacceptable risk to local communities in flood prone areas. We urge the Government to go beyond its current target and aim to have virtually all its critical assets meeting the Environment Agency’s required condition by 2019.”