Environment Agency welcomes findings of Pitt review
The Environment Agency has welcomed Sir Michael Pitt’s comprehensive final review into the 2007 summer floods as a significant contribution to managing the future flood risk in England and Wales.
In welcoming the report, Chief Executive Paul Leinster said the Environment Agency had highlighted the need for further clarity on the responsibilities for flooding from surface water drains, infrastructure protection, more publicly available information on flood risk, and additional resources to help adapt to climate change as key issues to be swiftly taken forward.
“Sir Michael’s report puts the spotlight back on the need for the country to be prepared and able to respond to the devastating impacts of flooding. He covers a wide range of topics – many directly related to our work – and all of which are essential to better protecting people and the environment from flooding into the future,” Paul Leinster said.
“In particular, we’re pleased with Sir Michael Pitt’s confidence that the Environment Agency is the right organisation to be given a strategic overview role for all types of flood risk in England. We now need the Floods Bill to give us the proper tools and legislation to finish the job. Urgent action is needed now to clarify our role and that of the local authorities, and to explore the new resources that will be needed to do this job.”
The Environment Agency has highlighted progress over the past 12 months in a number of areas that are a focus in Sir Michael Pitt’s report:
- Flood forecasting and flood warning – The number of people receiving a flood warning via the Floodline Warnings Direct service has increased by 29% (73,000 people), and from July, the Environment Agency and the Met Office will pilot a new service to forecast and warn emergency services and critical infrastructure providers about extreme rainfall which could lead to surface water flooding.
- Strategic overview and Floods and Water Bill – A clear strategic overview role for all types of flood risk will be given to the Environment Agency in England, and the new Floods and Water Bill will be drafted to reflect this. The strategic overview role will also assist the Environment Agency in working closer with others to ensure that surface water flooding is better managed, and the Environment Agency is working to provide a predictive indication of “hot spots” that are naturally vulnerable to surface water flooding.
- Data sharing – The Environment Agency has been further developing its close relationship with the Met Office and through access to 110 of the Met Office’s real time rain gauges, coupled with its own network, the Environment Agency is now developing more detailed river forecasting models, leading to more timely flood warnings being issued and better decisions by flood forecasters.
- Reservoir safety legislation – Work is underway to make flood plans available to emergency planners about the flood risk from dam failures.
“It’s also important that the real risk of climate change has been acknowledged by Sir Michael Pitt. Recent flood events have highlighted the urgency of adapting to the potential effects of climate change to protect lives, property, the economy and the environment. Now that the Government’s Foresight report has been reviewed, and it’s clear that we are going to face less predictable weather and more extreme events such as flash flooding, investment in flood risk management should continue to rise to keep up with the changing climate,” Paul Leinster said.
“This report is comprehensive and well researched, and overall we’re pleased it’s raised issues of importance and ways forward, for not only the Environment Agency, but for local authorities, utilities and emergency responders.
“It’s also encouraging that the report reinforces the importance of individuals in taking responsibility for protecting themselves and their properties. We can’t stop the rain but we can all work together to reduce the impacts of flooding,” Paul Leinster said.
