2 August 2007
As Britain’s flood waters recede, CSS has come forward with a five-point plan designed to ensure that the nation’s infrastructure can better cope with future emergencies.
CSS believes a number of actions are needed:
- Professional bodies with expertise in flood risk management and water infrastructure need to work together to determine the correct design standards for drainage systems
- This work will need to feed into an infrastructure investment review to determine how much more money needs to be spent on “public” infrastructure
- Highway storm water sewers in particular will need upgrading to prevent surface water flooding occurring as frequently
- Finance will need to be raised through water charges, taxation and through developer costs or contributions, all of which will be a burden on consumers
- Improve resilience with a range of options for power and water treatment including smaller, distributed plants.
Although the immediate priority for members will be to work in their authorities on the recovery phase, CSS will be pressing for a full debate on the need for more investment in public infrastructure. It will also encourage its members to share their experiences of what went well and what could be improved
CSS President, Richard Wills, commented: “I have no doubt that many people will be calling for greater investment in flood defences and I would support that. However, the floods have also highlighted vulnerability and a lack of resilience in our key infrastructure. We may have become more efficient in the last few years, but the Gloucester floods demonstrated that the UK is vulnerable to power and water shortages if a few installations are put out of action. We will need to have an informed debate on how much investment is necessary to improve the situation.”
“Failure to take action in providing greater resilience will put economic growth at considerable risk. This is entirely consistent with Sir Nicholas Stern’s Review, which recognised that adaptation for climate change could cost between 0.05 and 0.5% GDP.”
Mr Wills went on to praise the response of local authority staff to the emergencies. Local authority and private sector employees from Directors to road workers have been working alongside emergency services, Environment Agency and water company staff to respond to the incidents. Many people have worked exceptionally long hours to try and meet the needs of communities affected.
He had particular praise for the voluntary sector. “Local authorities plan for emergencies of all kinds. Working with other agencies is an important part of contingency planning. Volunteers from many organisations have played a crucial role in bringing relief to those who have suffered and some reassurance to those who were not so badly affected but have suffered from the fear of what might happen.”
“While the worst affected areas have hit the national headlines, many other areas suffered less than they might have otherwise done. This was achieved by councils working closely with the Environment Agency and the emergency services. Much of this work will go unnoticed.”
ends
Media contact
Barrie Hedges, Daybreak Communications office 0845 644 3845; mobile 07899 923756; barrie.hedges@daybreakcomm.co.uk
Note to editors
- CSS represents the Directors of Strategic Planning, Transportation, Environment, Waste Management and Economic Development throughout the UK. Its members' responsibilities cover more than half the population, 75% of the highways and 90% of the land area of the country. More information from www.cssnet.org.uk
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