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Closed Abandon European Water Framework Directive to prevent future flooding in the UK.

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Recent extreme weather and flooding have led to widespread devastation, caused largely by inadequate flood defences. A key factor has so far remained absent from discussions on the future of flood prevention in the UK – the cessation of river dredging that has led to river beds becoming blocked.

Following the introduction of the European Water Framework Directive in 2000, river dredging has been stopped to comply with obligations imposed by the EU. The build up of sediment and trees in river beds since 2000 has led to higher water levels and increasing water pressure on local structures, leading to the damage and collapse of many buildings and bridges throughout the UK. Many communities and businesses have been left devastated by such events, isolated from road networks and other areas.

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  • Related activity

    House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee inquiry into future flood prevention

    You may be interested to know that the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee is currently looking into future flood prevention. It will focus on: predicting the future, protecting communities and infrastructure, managing water flows, planning for floods and flood insurance.
     
    The Committee is asking for written submissions from people on the following questions:
     
    · Are the Environment Agency and Met Office models that predict rainfall patterns and the likelihood of future floods fit for purpose - and do they correctly calculate the costs of future flooding to communities?

    · How adequately do defences protect communities and agricultural land from floods and do current funding arrangements target spending in the right way?

    · How effectively do the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency’s policies encourage innovative approaches to managing risk such as slowing the flow of water in urban and rural river catchment areas and promoting water storage?

    · How well do planning policies ensure new buildings are not put in areas of high flood risk nor where they would increase risk to others – and how well do new developments incorporate sustainable drainage and flood-resilient buildings?

    As part of this inquiry, the Committee will look at flood insurance. With the new Flood Re scheme coming into operation in April, written evidence is also welcome on how accessible and affordable flood insurance will be for businesses as well as householders covered by the scheme.

    The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 15 March 2016.
     
    You can find out more about the Committee's inquiry here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2015/future-flood-prevention-launch-15-16/

     
    You can watch a short video about how Select Committees work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c&feature=youtu.be
     
    You can find out more about how to send a submission to a Select Committee here: http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/committees/
     
    You can follow the EFRA Committee on Twitter: @CommonsEFRA

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    This petition will stay open until 8 July 2016.