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| PM warns over 'weather extremes' | PM warns over 'weather extremes' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the siting of infrastructure needs to be reviewed in the wake of flooding across England over the past few weeks. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the siting of infrastructure needs to be reviewed in the wake of flooding across England over the past few weeks. |
| Water and electricity have been hit in Gloucestershire after a water treatment works was flooded and the rising waters threatened an electricity substation. | Water and electricity have been hit in Gloucestershire after a water treatment works was flooded and the rising waters threatened an electricity substation. |
| Mr Brown, in his No 10 press briefing, said climate change meant planning had to presume more extreme weather events. | Mr Brown, in his No 10 press briefing, said climate change meant planning had to presume more extreme weather events. |
| That included boosting urban drainage systems to cope with heavier downpours. | That included boosting urban drainage systems to cope with heavier downpours. |
| Floods in Gloucestershire, the worst-affected county, have left thousands of people without a supply of drinking water. | Floods in Gloucestershire, the worst-affected county, have left thousands of people without a supply of drinking water. |
| Infrastructure review | Infrastructure review |
| Some 40,000 homes have also lost power and England's two biggest rivers, the Severn and the Thames, are threatening to overflow. | Some 40,000 homes have also lost power and England's two biggest rivers, the Severn and the Thames, are threatening to overflow. |
| Asked whether he was confident everything that could have been done had been done, Mr Brown said: "I think the emergency services have done a great job." | Asked whether he was confident everything that could have been done had been done, Mr Brown said: "I think the emergency services have done a great job." |
| He added: "Obviously like every advanced industrial country we're coming to terms with some of the issues surrounding climate change. | He added: "Obviously like every advanced industrial country we're coming to terms with some of the issues surrounding climate change. |
| The world is going to have to come to terms, so the scientists are telling us, with more extreme weather events Hilary BennEnvironment secretary | The world is going to have to come to terms, so the scientists are telling us, with more extreme weather events Hilary BennEnvironment secretary |
| "It's pretty clear that some of the 19th Century structures we're dealing with - infrastructure and where they were sited - that is something we're going to have to review." | "It's pretty clear that some of the 19th Century structures we're dealing with - infrastructure and where they were sited - that is something we're going to have to review." |
| He said: "This has been, if you like, a one in 150 years set of incidents that has taken place in both Yorkshire and Humberside and now in Gloucestershire and the Severn." | He said: "This has been, if you like, a one in 150 years set of incidents that has taken place in both Yorkshire and Humberside and now in Gloucestershire and the Severn." |
| He said there were many areas where they would have to "look for the future" at what had to be done - including where infrastructure was located, its drainage and flood defences. | He said there were many areas where they would have to "look for the future" at what had to be done - including where infrastructure was located, its drainage and flood defences. |
| Flash flooding | Flash flooding |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the scientific consensus was that the climate was changing, adding: "The world is going to have to come to terms, so the scientists are telling us, with more extreme weather events and that's why we need to anticipate them and try and plan for them." | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the scientific consensus was that the climate was changing, adding: "The world is going to have to come to terms, so the scientists are telling us, with more extreme weather events and that's why we need to anticipate them and try and plan for them." |
| Mr Brown added: "That's what the review is all about." | Mr Brown added: "That's what the review is all about." |
| Asked about fears that his plans for three million new homes by 2020 would mean building on flood plains and increase flash flooding, he said advice about new building was being "tightened up". | Asked about fears that his plans for three million new homes by 2020 would mean building on flood plains and increase flash flooding, he said advice about new building was being "tightened up". |
| Last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings Sir Menzies CampbellLib Dem leader | Last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings Sir Menzies CampbellLib Dem leader |
| Earlier Mr Brown had flown in by helicopter to some of the worst hit areas of Gloucestershire, where 150,000 homes were initially without water after a treatment works was flooded - it is thought the number will rise to 350,000 within 15 hours. | Earlier Mr Brown had flown in by helicopter to some of the worst hit areas of Gloucestershire, where 150,000 homes were initially without water after a treatment works was flooded - it is thought the number will rise to 350,000 within 15 hours. |
| Parts of Worcestershire were also under 6ft of water and the Army has been helping emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn, while Warwickshire and Berkshire have also been badly affected and severe warnings remain in place for Oxfordshire. | Parts of Worcestershire were also under 6ft of water and the Army has been helping emergency services provide supplies to people in Upton-upon-Severn, while Warwickshire and Berkshire have also been badly affected and severe warnings remain in place for Oxfordshire. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who is on a visit to Hull - where about 17,000 homes were damaged by flooding in June - said a lack of planning by the government had led to a "summer of suffering". | |
| He said, "There is no doubt that climate change is going to lead to more extreme weather in this country and the government has a duty to prepare for this and put in place plans to minimise the devastation. | He said, "There is no doubt that climate change is going to lead to more extreme weather in this country and the government has a duty to prepare for this and put in place plans to minimise the devastation. |
| "Yet last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings." | "Yet last week there were no preparations put in place despite early severe weather warnings." |
| Mr Benn is to make a statement to MPs later on Monday on the floods. | Mr Benn is to make a statement to MPs later on Monday on the floods. |
| The housing green paper is also to be unveiled in a statement to MPs. | The housing green paper is also to be unveiled in a statement to MPs. |