You may remember there were devastating floods in the North of England last winter. Thousands of people had their Christmas ruined particularly in Cumbria and Yorkshire, and many are still struggling, most can't get insurance either. People in Somerset and parts of the Thames Valley went through it not so long before that.
At least one bridge is still unopened and at least one pub likewise and winter will be upon us again before you know it. A recent television report from one of the affected towns described how last year there were only five miles of temporary barriers available, but now there are twenty five! Imagine my joy when I discovered that was actually for the whole country! Should be enough to encircle what, a small hamlet! And guess what in about twenty to thirty percent of cases they fail.
Nice to know our politicians are taking the problem so seriously; they've just published their review of flood defences and of course these temporary barriers aren't the only 'improvements' however many areas are little or no better off than they were. There have been cuts to flood defence budgets, then there's a disaster so they spend, then they cut, then they spend (a bit) WHERE IS THE STRATEGY?
A singularly unimpressive performance by Dr Therese Coffey MP will have done less than nothing to allay peoples' fears, so lets all support the government and do as they do - hope it doesn't bloody rain!
Malcolm Snook
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