Floods and flood defense

News article number one: Earlier in the year the government cut the amount of money it would spend on building flood defences to protect people and their houses.


Spending Review 2010: Government to cut flood defence spend


Author: Leigh Jackson
Source: Post | 20 Oct 2010

The government has outlined plans to improve flood defences for around 145 000 households but will cut spend to £2bn.
The plan, part of today's Spending Review, comes despite savings having to be made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

In the last spending review, the previous government committed to £2.15 billion for three years 2008 - 2011. Today, the government committed £2bn over four years 2011- 2015

Chancellor George Osborne said: "Defra will deliver resource savings of an average 8% a year - but we will fund a major improvement in our flood defences and coastal erosion management, that will provide better protection for 145,000 homes."

The pledge comes after insurer Axa called on the government to clarify its flood defence strategy earlier this month.

The insurer claimed that it was not clear where the money will come from to implement the Flood and Water Management Act, which passed into law just before the general election.

Thinking about the previous post about plans to not spend as much on flood defence, read the following artcile form this week about the floods in Cornwall. Discuss and give us your opinions.

Cornwall floods force evacuation of more than 100 homes
More than 100 homes have been evacuated after floods and gale-force winds caused disruption across Cornwall.

People were trapped in their cars and homes by the rising floodwaters, which reached up to 6ft (2m) deep in places.

St Blazey, St Austell, Mevagissey and Lostwithiel were the worst hit areas. The Met Office said a further 10mm (0.4in) of rain could fall overnight.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the government would do all it could to help those affected.

The disruption includes:

• Train services in and out of the county have been disrupted by landslides

• Schools have been shut while the county's main trunk roads have been closed for several hours

• Engineers are examining a bridge in Lostwithiel which is believed to be on the verge of collapse

• Twenty-five vehicles have been recovered from floodwater

• Cornwall Council has set up an emergency shelter at Polkyth Leisure Centre in St Austell, where 200 blankets and 200 groundsheets have been donated by the charity ShelterBox

• Search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor have been scrambled to offer assistance

people trapped by cornwall floods
Heavy rain and strong winds have caused flooding and landslides in parts of Cornwall, south-west England, and left people trapped in their homes and cars.

Police have called it a "major flooding incident", but said there had been no injuries so far. They added that the rain had now stopped.

Floodwater up to two metres deep has been reported in some places.

Some schools have been shut and main roads have been closed. Trains in and out of Cornwall have been cancelled.

Rescue helicopters have been used to help free people who've become stuck by the floods.

People are being advised to not travel in the area.

by leshun nyanga

Homes and shops were devastated by the floods of Monday November 15th 2010 and the people of Cornwall are battling to get back in business in time for christmas.

Millions of pounds worth of damage left some homeless and many face massive repair bills.
By Nicole Dennis