Liberal Democrats discuss flooding

11.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Sep 2007

Colin Ross monitoring flood levels

Conference this morning discussed the recent flooding and how to manage the impact and risk of flooding. Annual flood damage now averages £2.3 billion per year, and this total is rising as climate change increases the variability of weather patterns. Over two million homes are currently at risk from flooding, and this may underestimate homes at risk from inadequate drainage and extreme rainfall.

Conference agreed that the existing Bellwin scheme to help flood-hit areas with compensation is complicated and over-bureaucratic and based on estimates in the first few months rather than long-term impacts. It also only normally provides support for current spending rather than capital expenditure, even though in some cases complete reconstruction, of a road section for example, would be more cost-effective than patching up.

Conference called for:

1. Additional special support for areas hard-hit by the recent flooding, so that repairs can be undertaken quickly to key public buildings and social housing.

2. An ongoing assessment of the physical capacity of the construction industry in flooded areas to respond to the exceptional demand, and a recognition that extra payments may be needed to draft in out-of-area building teams.

3. Generous and speedy grants and interest-free loans to be given by government to allow people in hardship to replace furniture and rebuild their lives in the worst-hit and poorest areas.

4. An early increase in the flood defence budget to ensure adequate maintenance of existing defences and construction of new ones.

5. A review of critical utility infrastructure to assess its vulnerability to flooding with the aim of improving defences where appropriate, and ensuring Flood Risk Maps are kept fully up-to date.

6. A statutory duty on the private water companies to review and upgrade drainage in line with the increased needs due to climate change, as well as to maintain drainage systems properly and make pumping stations proof against flooding.

7. The Environment Agency to take strategic responsibility for flood defence management and planning, working with local authorities and water companies to deliver an accountable strategic, long-term approach to flood defence and an early warning system for all types of flooding, and ensure residential, retail, commercial or industrial premises are not built on flood plains or areas of high flooding risk, unless substantial flood management schemes are in place.

8. The strengthening of existing legislation concerning developments on flood plains to protect against unsustainable developments, avoiding siting vulnerable development in flood plains and ensuring that all new developments incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) to reduce urban run-off water.

9. Councils to be encouraged to seek contributions from developers under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990 to improve the wider drainage system.

10. The development of shoreline management plans in coastal areas, making a presumption in favour of managed retreat.

11. Wetland and woodland restoration to be a priority as a means of flood management, tied with our support of agri-environment schemes such as hedgerows to slow water run-off from farmland.

12. The establishment of English National Task Forces to create integrated flood management plans, and introduce a rolling 50-year planning horizon for climate change adaptation.