23/12/09
The purpose of the 'Flood' part of the Flood and Water Management Bill is to enact the recommendations of the Pitt Review and provide a legislative framework to coordinate the many bodies with responsibilities for flooding and surface water drainage.
This year's flooding in Cumbria reminds us how urgent this is and that it is a local issue requiring local solutions.
Establishing proper planning procedures to deal with rainstorms of increasing intensity is in the interests of all. Legislation putting in place the framework proposed by Pitt should allow this to happen, as long as flaws in the draft bill are corrected.
With clarity over roles and responsibilities drawn, the Environment Agency, local government and other involved organisations can begin to address the range of issues, including targeting flood protection or providing resilient or sustainable developments.
Water UK flood briefing