Environment Agency to take stronger lead in fighting floods

By Tim Webb

The Government has reacted to criticism of its management of flood control and prevention with plans to give the Environment Agency new powers to deal with future crises.

It comes after the devastating floods in Yorkshire and the West of England this summer.

Currently, the agency shares responsibility for the UK's waterways with private households, water companies and county and district councils.

The water industry has criticised the system as being unco- ordinated, calling for it to be streamlined. Companies are concerned that the public will blame them for floods, even though they are only responsible for maintaining sewers.

Richard Venters, legal adviser at trade body Water UK, said: "We want more of a positive lead from government. It would help if the current structure for managing floods and planning was simplified. It would help water companies too. Floods pollute aquifers and damage sewers, which companies have to mend."

Under the current fragmented system, the agency - part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - is responsible for managing large streams and rivers, maintaining river banks and building drainage ditches, for example.

Some 170 independent "internal drainage boards" manage smaller rivers. County and district councils manage street drainage such as gutters. Households are responsible for drains under their homes, while companies look after the rest of the UK's sewers.

A Defra spokesperson said: "We are seeking views from all key stakeholders on how the agency could have a strategic overview of all forms of inland flooding." She added that pilot studies had been set up in towns and cities to look at how to streamline the management of surface-water flooding. "These will feed into any long term changes that are needed in high risk areas.""

The Government has set up an independent review of the floods and how the country responded. On Tuesday, the Cabinet Office will launch a website allowing the public to express their views.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced that flood- defence funding will rise to 800m by 2010-11.

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