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Flood risk fear over key UK sites Flood risk fear over key UK sites
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of UK power substations and water treatment plants are potentially at risk from flooding, a confidential government study suggests.Hundreds of UK power substations and water treatment plants are potentially at risk from flooding, a confidential government study suggests.
BBC News has seen the conclusions of research commissioned after the devastating floods of 2007.BBC News has seen the conclusions of research commissioned after the devastating floods of 2007.
The study finds "the risks posed by natural hazards are already rising and are predicted to rise further".The study finds "the risks posed by natural hazards are already rising and are predicted to rise further".
While work to boost resilience is ongoing, the report calls on companies, regulators and ministers to act.While work to boost resilience is ongoing, the report calls on companies, regulators and ministers to act.
The report warns that "there are likely to be hundreds of sites at the highest levels of criticality".The report warns that "there are likely to be hundreds of sites at the highest levels of criticality".
It concludes that it would "be imprudent to rest on the basis that events on the lines of those which happened last summer were so infrequent as to reply on a reactive response alone".It concludes that it would "be imprudent to rest on the basis that events on the lines of those which happened last summer were so infrequent as to reply on a reactive response alone".
Flood barrierFlood barrier
Early estimates of the cost of strengthening the flood resistance of key sites run into the region of £1bn.Early estimates of the cost of strengthening the flood resistance of key sites run into the region of £1bn.
The catalyst for this investigation was the near-loss of a major power switching station at Walham, near Gloucester, in July last year.The catalyst for this investigation was the near-loss of a major power switching station at Walham, near Gloucester, in July last year.
It provides electricity for 500,000 homes and businesses in Gloucestershire and acts as a key relay for supplies to south Wales.It provides electricity for 500,000 homes and businesses in Gloucestershire and acts as a key relay for supplies to south Wales.
Only with emergency work supported by the military was the floodwater kept inches away from overwhelming the plant.Only with emergency work supported by the military was the floodwater kept inches away from overwhelming the plant.
I think many of us were surprised by the degree to which critical infrastructure was affected Sir Michael PittI think many of us were surprised by the degree to which critical infrastructure was affected Sir Michael Pitt
At one stage during a meeting of Cobra, the government's emergency planning committee, ministers ordered officials to prepare plans for a mass evacuation.At one stage during a meeting of Cobra, the government's emergency planning committee, ministers ordered officials to prepare plans for a mass evacuation.
The site is now defended by a massive flood barrier.The site is now defended by a massive flood barrier.
The flooding of a treatment works, at Mythe, Gloucestershire, at the same time led to 350,000 people losing water supplies for up to three weeks.The flooding of a treatment works, at Mythe, Gloucestershire, at the same time led to 350,000 people losing water supplies for up to three weeks.
What alarms officials is the potential impact on the normal functioning of society - and the speed with which last summer's rainstorms led to flash flooding.What alarms officials is the potential impact on the normal functioning of society - and the speed with which last summer's rainstorms led to flash flooding.
The revelations of this internal government study come as Sir Michael Pitt puts the finishing touches to his official review of last summer's floods.The revelations of this internal government study come as Sir Michael Pitt puts the finishing touches to his official review of last summer's floods.
His inquiry - due to publish its final report next month - has already found that more than 1,000 electricity and water works were affected, along with 12 sections of railway line and eight stretches of motorway.His inquiry - due to publish its final report next month - has already found that more than 1,000 electricity and water works were affected, along with 12 sections of railway line and eight stretches of motorway.
'Wake-up call''Wake-up call'
Sir Michael told the BBC: "There is no doubt that the network was vulnerable, that the loss of Walham would have been a major issue and many hundreds of thousands of people would have had their power affected.Sir Michael told the BBC: "There is no doubt that the network was vulnerable, that the loss of Walham would have been a major issue and many hundreds of thousands of people would have had their power affected.
The Army was used to distribute emergency bottled water
"I think many of us were surprised by the degree to which critical infrastructure was affected."I think many of us were surprised by the degree to which critical infrastructure was affected.
"Tens of thousands of people were out of their homes, thousands of businesses were directly affected, but I honestly believe that we could have been a great deal worse.""Tens of thousands of people were out of their homes, thousands of businesses were directly affected, but I honestly believe that we could have been a great deal worse."
When contacted, spokesmen for the industry associations representing the electricity network and water companies said the summer floods had served as a wake-up call.When contacted, spokesmen for the industry associations representing the electricity network and water companies said the summer floods had served as a wake-up call.
But they added that urgent research into the risks was under way - and in many cases further flood defence work had been carried out.But they added that urgent research into the risks was under way - and in many cases further flood defence work had been carried out.