Tagged: government
Britain: Steel yourself for climate extremes, warns EA
BRITAIN should steel itself for the extremes of drought and flood and act urgently to be ready for the effects of climate change, Environment Agency Chairman Lord Chris Smith has warned. Publishing new figures that demonstrate the ‘feast and famine’ effects on water supply and flooding, the Environment Agency called on water companies, farmers and [...]
Government: Too Slow to Tackle Flooding say MPs
The Government has been too slow to implement changes that would protect homes and businesses from the shattering effects of flooding and needs to get on with implementing them, MPs have warned in the run-up to scrutiny of the draft Water Bill. The select committee for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) sets out the [...]
£120m Of New Flood Defence Funding Could Protect 60,000 Homes and Boost Growth
£120 million in new funding will speed up the delivery of flood defences that could protect up to 60,000 homes and deliver up to £1 billion of economic benefits, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has announced. £60 million of the funding will be targeted at areas where flood defences can unlock new opportunities for [...]
Floods Crisis: Government Indecision and Delay “Must Stop Now”
As Britain is gripped by a floods crisis, Government indecision and inertia is seriously delaying vital work to protect thousands of homes and properties in the UK. Devastating flooding could cause £millions of damage in scenes reminiscent of the 2007 floods which prompted a groundbreaking Government review by Sir Michael Pitt. Yet how much real [...]
ABI: Government Flood Insurance Talks “at an Impasse”
ABI statement on flood insurance The ABI has called for the Government to commit to a joint solution to ensure long term affordable flood insurance for high-risk households, describing the current state of talks aimed at reaching an agreement as being “at an impasse”. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has consistently lobbied for a [...]
DEFRA Consults on Urban Diffuse Pollution Strategy
Defra is seeking views to help develop a strategy for the management of urban diffuse water pollution in England. The consultation will run until 8 February 2013 and consultation responses are being invited on the Defra website. According to Defra, currently, 27% of water bodies in England meet the standards necessary to support viable ecosystems. Many [...]
SuDS Design Standards – Where do we go from here?
When the news quietly trickled through, local authority SuDS approving teams could not have been surprised to learn that they will not be commencing their new roles in April 2013. A further delay had come to seem inevitable. The question is, what should the preparing SABs do now? Those who are farthest ahead could follow [...]
The Top 7 Unanswered Questions on SuDS Standards
With one voice, a cry for ‘clarity, clarity, clarity’ has gone out to Government in response to the National SuDS Standards consultation. There are strong indications that both local government and industry believe the standards, as they currently stand, are not yet fit for purpose. The devil is definitely in the detail as far as [...]
Remain water wise despite replenished water resources, says EA
The Environment Agency has urged the public to continue to use water wisely, despite significantly reduced risks of serious drought. The wettest April on record and continuing rain in May has made widespread water restrictions more unlikely this summer, but the agency also warned that underground water levels are still low or exceptionally low in [...]
Partnership funding arrangements boost 60 new flood defence schemes
The Government today gave the go-ahead for 60 flood and coastal risk schemes providing protection to more than 25,000 homes Defra and the Environment Agency say the new partnership funding approach, which encourages funding from external sources such as councils and businesses has helped secure over £72 million of contributions to fund flood and coastal erosion [...]
At Last we have National SuDS Standards…
DEFRA served up an extra treat for us to digest over the Christmas holidays. The National Standards for SuDS were published for consultation on December 20. For the complete industry reaction, I suspect we’ll need to wait until the New Year is well underway. The National Standards are designed to provide a structure for the [...]
Defra Consults on National SuDS Standards
The Government have today begun a consultation on National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems in England. The consultation ends on 13 March 2012. Defra are inviting comments on the proposals, which form part implementation programme for the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.The Welsh Government will be consulting separately about implementation in Wales. Expressions of interest from [...]
Defra Report Sets out Flood Insurance Road Map for 2013 and Beyond
Defra has revealed the conclusions of important work to decide on the best approach to dealing with flood insurance following the ending of the ‘Statement of Principles’ agreement in 2013. The Statement of Principles is the Government’s agreement with the insurance industry that commits insurers to continue to offer insurance to existing customers where they [...]
Water White Paper – “Water for Life”
Just as winds and floods lashed the North of England, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced the Government’s long-awaited Water White Paper – with a stern warning of need for action to tackle severe water shortages. The dramatic contrasts in weather conditions couldn’t have provided a more pressing reminder of the impacts of climate change, which [...]
Government Publishes Water White Paper
The Government today published the long-awaited Water White Paper. Launching a new approach to water management, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman warned of the threat of future of water shortages, lasting environmental damage, with some rivers running dry, unless attitudes to water use change. “Currently we enjoy clean water at the turn of a tap, and [...]
Wales Launches First National FCERM Strategy
The Welsh Government has launched its first National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management. One in six properties in Wales is at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and surface water. Every local authority in Wales will now produce its own strategy, based on the national one. The National Strategy sets four [...]
Government planning reforms must not lead to unsaleable, uninsurable and uninhabitable properties warns the ABI
Government plans to reform the planning process must not lead to developments being built in flood risk areas, so making flood insurance more expensive or even unobtainable the ABI warned today. Around 1 in 6 properties – 5 million homes and 185,000 businesses – in England are currently at risk of flooding, and the ABI [...]
182,000 English households now better defended against flood risk, says EA
Since the floods of 2007, 182,000 households in England are now better defended against flood risk – more than a quarter of those in the East of England. The figure exceeds the three year government set target by 37,000 homes – a report published by the Environment Agency reveals. In addition, a record number of [...]
Front-runner communities chosen to test neighbourhood planning powers
New powers to give local people unprecedented influence to determine the future of their areas are to be tried out in 36 more front-runner areas. These areas are among the first to test out neighbourhood planning, a radical new power being introduced in the Localism Bill, which will give local people a real voice in [...]
CIWEM Coastal Flooding and Erosion Risk Management – Understanding Change: Risk and Organisational Responses
This conference will take stock of the past 18 months of new guidance, legislation and the changing emphasis of the Government’s policies in coastal flood and erosion risk. It will also look at our developing understanding of the risks to coastal communities, businesses and environment and the next steps that are needed. The conference will [...]
Road Expo Scotland
Road Expo Scotland – Plan, Build, Manage, Maintain, Sustain With more than 100 exhibitors, Scotland’s largest roads, traffic management and construction exhibition claims to be ultimate destination north of the border for road and construction professionals looking to source the latest products and services and understand the implications of legislative changes. The exhibition will be opened by [...]
CIWEM Climate change and the Water Sector – Integrating Adaptation and Mitigation in Practice
The aim of this conference is to take stock of current thinking on climate change, the developing evidence base on emissions and risks, and in covering both adaptation and mitigation and their inter-relationships to look at how this thinking is being put into practice in response to the major drivers. The conference will demonstrate the [...]
CIWEM Catchment Delivery Conference – Towards more Effective Environmental and Societal Benefits
The Coalition Government have given the strongest endorsement for the need for catchment scale delivery fully involving local stakeholders of the Water Framework Directive and other environmental programmes. The aim of this conference will be to describe the major catchment scale initiatives and will focus on how these can be best drawn together into an [...]
Dramatic simplification of planning guidance to encourage sustainable growth
A new, simpler framework for the planning system that safeguards the environment while meeting the need for sustainable growth has been published for consultation today by Planning Minister Greg Clark.
National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Published
It’s Official. The Government’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy has been published and the document and background can be viewed here. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/policy/130073.aspx
More flood and coastal defence schemes to go ahead under new funding system
More flood and coastal erosion defence projects across England will receive government money each year under a new funding system announced by Defra.
Suds confusion breaks out
An excellent article about the problems facing the industry because of the Government’s lack of communication around sustainable urban drainage systems (Suds) has just been published in the New Civil Engineer.
SUDS Silence From Government Causes Industry Concern
New Civil Engineer 6 May 2011
Flood and Water Management Act
The Flood and Water Management Act embodies far-reaching changes to improve the management of flood risk in England and Wales and encourage the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS).
Fears Flood Defence Cuts Leave Homes Uninsured
This is Cornwall
Hydro International Hosts SuDS Round Table Debate
Hydro International hosted SuDS: The State of the Nation, a Round Table debate to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing SuDS delivery.
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Twitter Feed
- Flooding threatens one in four London properties http://t.co/Ttiv44w201 via @guardian
(about 2 days ago) - Ofwat chief Regina Finn resigns via @Telegraph http://t.co/iETo54DRAM
(about 2 days ago)
- Flooding threatens one in four London properties http://t.co/Ttiv44w201 via @guardian
