http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/16/flood-area-defences-funding-cuts Flood area defences put on hold by government funding cuts David Cameron visiting a flood-hit area Has anyone ever thought that the spending cuts have not contributed to the present disastrous conditions in the Thames Valley or the Somerset levels, or any of the numerous other locations around the country? Successive governments, but predominately this current ConDem coalition disaster, save £millions with their budget cuts, and it costs the country £billions in flood damage, farming losses and disruption to travel and transport with a huge repair bill to come. It has also resulted in immeasurable hardship and suffering for thousands of people who have seen considerable damage, or even complete destruction of their homes and businesses, the loss of sometimes irreplaceable possessions and disruption of their lives for months if not years to come. Funding cuts for essential s...
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/10630499/David-Cameron-warns-flooding-victims-they-are-in-for-long-haul.html More storms bring flooding threat to Home Counties and London Village of Moorland in Somerset Disregard all the rhetoric, finger pointing, mud slinging blame game nonsense. Forget the photo opportunity tours by Cameron, Smith, Clegg, Patterson (Pre op version), Hammond and the rest and today to be joined by Miliband and no doubt others to follow, all designed more for PR than solution. The bottom line to all this rhetoric, comment and hand wringing "sympathy, is a simple one. It will be stated by people standing up to their thighs in flood water outside their homes, It will be repeated by Environmental Agency workers as they continue the battle against ever rising water levels laying sand bags and fitting pumps where the rivers should be. It will be stated by railway workers as they try to repair sto...
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/03/government-cuts-flood-risk-leinster-environment-agency Owen Paterson Denies Staff Cuts Will Affect Flood Defences Owen Paterson MP Owen Paterson justifies the axing of 1,600 posts by October of this year, including an estimated 550 staff employed on flood protection, with the banal comment that, “Like all departments, this department has had to make efficiencies" and then, adding the now well worn cliche "given the dire financial position we inherited when we came to office". "the department has had to make efficiencies" This government lurches from crisis to crisis wielding an economic axe, without consideration for consequence or effect and all on the altar of the political dogma of austerity. As usual, it is all someone else's fault as the ConDem coalition hold no responsibility for anything. This is the same Owen Patterson who attacked Badgers for moving the goal post...