Many parts of England were left in ruin after being inundated by floodwaters, with rivers reaching unprecedented levels. This has sparked a heated debate over the allocation of funds for the most at-risk regions in the country.
The Labour party accused Rishi Sunak of neglecting flood warnings during a week where over 1,000 properties were flooded and certain villages were completely isolated. Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire were hit the hardest.
The EA in England attributed the floods to the ongoing climate emergency and recommended that individuals in flood-prone areas shut off their gas, water, and electricity, bring belongings upstairs, and evacuate with their family, pets, and vehicles.
While the forecast predicts a decrease in rain over the weekend, temperatures are expected to drop, leading to further difficulties for individuals attempting to restore their homes and businesses following the heavy rainfall.
The EA cautioned residents affected by flooding to prepare for an additional five days of hardship due to the ground being fully saturated.
On Friday evening, numerous flood warnings and alerts were still active in England and Wales. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also announced a cold weather alert for Saturday.
During this winter, the National Audit Office disclosed that there would be a 40% decrease in the number of properties that will be safeguarded from flooding by 2027. Additionally, 500 out of 2,000 proposed flood defence projects have been cancelled.
On Friday, the prime minister was met with jeers as he departed from a cafe in Marple, Stockport. He had just finished speaking with activists in the competitive electoral district of Hazel Grove, which is shared by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
The individuals who were jeering at him demanded that he step down from his position, although not specifically because of his actions regarding the floods. However, Sunak asserted that his government was effectively managing the flooding situation, after the Labour party announced plans to form a task force similar to Cobra to improve protection in at-risk regions. Sir Keir Starmer promised to ensure that flood defenses were adequate and functional.
According to the Labour party, the focus was not on obtaining more money, but on making sure that the already designated funds for flood protection were utilized to their fullest potential.
Sunak dismissed the criticism, stating: “The Environment Agency has personnel on site at numerous locations and fully acknowledges the urgency of the situation. They are taking prompt and appropriate action.”
Despite calls from the Liberal Democrats to personally visit areas affected by flooding, he chose not to do so. Instead, he sent Robbie Moore, a junior minister from the environment department, to Nottingham where numerous properties along the River Trent were forced to evacuate.
Moore told reporters the EA was “working incredibly hard” and that the government was spending £5.2bn over the “next cycle” to “better protect homes that have been impacted by these consequences”.
He suggested that local government officials could thoroughly examine planning requests by considering the potential effects of floods.
The Labour party stated that even though the government has doubled its budget for flood protection, the number of properties safeguarded from floods will only increase by 20%.
In an interview near the Trent River, Alex McDonald, a spokesperson for the EA, stated that the east Midlands region is experiencing the consequences of climate change. As a country, we must become more prepared for potential flooding.
This week, the Guardian and Greenpeace revealed that the number of crucial flood protection systems in need of repair has significantly increased in the West Midlands and east of England since 2018. As a result, numerous homes and businesses are at a higher risk of damage from storms.
Councilman Paul Taylor, who oversees public safety at Newark and Sherwood district council, stated that significant funding was necessary for flood prevention efforts, but the primary focus at the moment is assisting and safeguarding the community.
He stated that certain villages are isolated and they have been providing assistance to individuals who are unable to leave their villages for things such as obtaining medication.
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“We have experienced problems with flooding three times within the past few months.”
The heavy rainfall also caused disruptions to train schedules. Great Western Railway reported that multiple routes are currently shut down due to flooding, including those between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, Reading and Castle Cary, and Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall.
Numerous local roads were shut down due to flooding, particularly in the western region of England. The A421 in Bedfordshire, which connects the M1 motorway and A6, was also inaccessible on Friday. National Highways reported that efforts were underway to remove the flood water.
On Thursday, the largest amount of rainfall was recorded at Otterbourne in Hampshire, reaching 35.2mm. The southern counties of England experienced a range of 20mm-30mm of rainfall.
On Friday, Pat McFadden, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, and Steve Reed, the shadow environment secretary, issued a joint statement stating that the government had disregarded a November warning from the National Audit Office. The warning stated that the government was not fulfilling its promises to improve protection for homes against flooding.
The statement said: “Rishi Sunak has not been proactive and needs to take action immediately to prevent further harm to people’s lives and livelihoods. This is not a matter of additional funds, but rather making sure the budget allocated for flood prevention is utilized effectively. If this is not done, homes throughout the country will continue to be vulnerable.”
The Environmental Agency reported that there will be significant flooding along the River Trent and in Gloucester on Saturday. They also issued 250 flood warnings for areas in the Midlands and southern England.
The forecast stated that regions in the south-west along the River Avon will experience effects, and warned that there will likely be ongoing impacts in many parts of England for the next five days due to the ground being thoroughly soaked.
The data from the EA indicated that nearly all rivers in England were at extremely high levels, with certain rivers even surpassing their previous highest recorded flows. For example, the River Itchen in Southampton experienced a flow that was twice as high as its previous record in the month of December.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert, starting at 9am on Saturday and lasting until 12pm on January 12th.
According to a specialist, the United Kingdom should anticipate an increase in rainy winters as a result of climate change.
“According to Dr. Emily Wallace, a climate extremes expert at the Met Office, future climate predictions for the UK suggest an increased likelihood of heavy rainfall and extended periods of extreme weather, particularly during the winter season.”
Source: theguardian.com
