ADEPT response to MPs' report on flood risk management
ADEPT has issued its response to today's Environmental Audit Committee report that calls for more long-term planning and greater transparency in the allocation of flood defence spending.
Rupert Clubb, President of ADEPT, said:
“We welcome the report and recognise its value in contributing to the debate about how the relevant bodies should cooperate to deal with flooding.
“Flooding has a devastating impact on our communities and it can take them years to recover from its effects. It undermines business and community confidence, and without long-term investment planning for both existing and new flood defences and systems, economic growth and productivity will be stifled.
“New responsibilities for surface water, ground water and sustainable urban drainage systems presents challenges to local authorities. With pressures felt across a whole range of local authority services, transparent, long-term funding streams would not only reduce the risk of flooding but would also give businesses the confidence to expand and develop. At present this does not exist.
“The government also needs to step up to the climate adaptation agenda. While we support the agreement at last year’s Paris summit to cut emissions, we still have adaptation issues to tackle and historical investment levels may not be able to keep pace with the risks that a changing climate will expose. The cutting of funding to the Climate Ready support service is worrying and we hope the publication of the climate change risk assessment next year will galvanise a more strategic approach to planning and investment.
“ADEPT is keen to help shape this agenda and is able to assist Government from policy development through to delivery via its network of local authorities, Government agencies, businesses and other partners.”
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