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Floods: Environment Agency in dredging row Floods: Environment Agency in dredging row
(35 minutes later)
The Environment Agency has been criticised as flood warnings for south-west England remain in force.The Environment Agency has been criticised as flood warnings for south-west England remain in force.
Farmers in the Somerset Levels - which the Environment Secretary is visiting - have demonstrated against the agency for failing to dredge the rivers. Farmers and MPs in the Somerset Levels accused the agency of exacerbating the situation by not dredging the rivers.
Local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said the agency's reasons for not doing so were "pathetic".
But the agency has said increased dredging would not have prevented recent flooding.But the agency has said increased dredging would not have prevented recent flooding.
The Environment Agency currently has 14 flood warnings in place, nine of which are in south-west England, where more rain is forecast over the coming days. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said he wants an action plan drawn up for the area, where a "major incident" has been declared.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has been meeting farmers and council leaders in the area, where a "major incident" has been declared and large parts remain under water. The Environment Agency currently has 14 flood warnings in place, 10 of which are in south-west England, where more rain is forecast over the coming days.
Farmers in the affected area claim flooding has been prolonged by a failure to dredge rivers.
An environment agency spokesman said: "We're doing everything we can to pump water off the Somerset Levels as quickly as river and tide levels allow.An environment agency spokesman said: "We're doing everything we can to pump water off the Somerset Levels as quickly as river and tide levels allow.
"We have brought in extra manpower and pumping equipment from around the country and have 65 pumps working around the clock. This is the single largest pumping operation ever undertaken in Somerset.""We have brought in extra manpower and pumping equipment from around the country and have 65 pumps working around the clock. This is the single largest pumping operation ever undertaken in Somerset."
But he added: "Dredging is often not the best long term or economic solution and increased dredging of rivers on the Somerset Levels would not have prevented the recent widespread flooding."But he added: "Dredging is often not the best long term or economic solution and increased dredging of rivers on the Somerset Levels would not have prevented the recent widespread flooding."
Mr Paterson said he wanted to see a "concrete plan" to provide a long-term solution submitted to him within the next six weeks. Mr Paterson, speaking on a visit to the area, said he wanted to see a "concrete plan" to provide a long-term solution submitted to him within the next six weeks.
He added the plan would "almost certainly" involve clearing the Parrett and Tone rivers, acknowledging that national guidelines on dredging did not apply in the area as so much of it is below sea level.He added the plan would "almost certainly" involve clearing the Parrett and Tone rivers, acknowledging that national guidelines on dredging did not apply in the area as so much of it is below sea level.
Mr Paterson said: "I've come down here to see what can be done. It appears from what everyone's telling me that we do need to dredge these two rivers but also we need to do more to hold water back, way back in the hills."Mr Paterson said: "I've come down here to see what can be done. It appears from what everyone's telling me that we do need to dredge these two rivers but also we need to do more to hold water back, way back in the hills."
BBC broadcast meteorologist Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "We're expecting some more pretty heavy rain over the next 24 to 48 hours.BBC broadcast meteorologist Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "We're expecting some more pretty heavy rain over the next 24 to 48 hours.
"The heaviest of the rain is going to be concentrated across parts of southern England, where we really don't need it, and eastern Scotland."The heaviest of the rain is going to be concentrated across parts of southern England, where we really don't need it, and eastern Scotland.
"Showers in southern England are of the most concern and we could see up to 25mm (1in) fall in 24 hours which in itself isn't a huge amount, but it is falling on saturated ground and is going to have a further impact.""Showers in southern England are of the most concern and we could see up to 25mm (1in) fall in 24 hours which in itself isn't a huge amount, but it is falling on saturated ground and is going to have a further impact."
She said the places set to be affected include the Somerset Levels and parts of Hampshire and Dorset.She said the places set to be affected include the Somerset Levels and parts of Hampshire and Dorset.
Dredging callDredging call
Flood warnings in England are in place for parts of the Midlands, North East, South East and South West. There were also 138 flood alerts - indicating flooding is possible - in places across England and Wales.Flood warnings in England are in place for parts of the Midlands, North East, South East and South West. There were also 138 flood alerts - indicating flooding is possible - in places across England and Wales.
On Sunday, farmers in Somerset held a demonstration against the Environment Agency accusing them of failing to dredge the rivers, which they say has exacerbated the flooding.On Sunday, farmers in Somerset held a demonstration against the Environment Agency accusing them of failing to dredge the rivers, which they say has exacerbated the flooding.
Mr Liddell-Grainger, who is the Tory MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme about the River Parrett: "Once it's dredged we can then maintain it but the Environment Agency has to stop this mucking around and get on with it." Ian Liddell-Grainger, Tory MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme about the River Parrett: "Once it's dredged we can then maintain it but the Environment Agency has to stop this mucking around and get on with it."
He dismissed as "pathetic" the Environment Agency's claims that the rain would have overwhelmed the river system even if it had dredged the waterways.He dismissed as "pathetic" the Environment Agency's claims that the rain would have overwhelmed the river system even if it had dredged the waterways.
"It is an absolutely ridiculous excuse," he said. "This never flooded to this level ever in living memory, and we've got people who have been here for a long time. If you look back into the mists of time you don't have this.""It is an absolutely ridiculous excuse," he said. "This never flooded to this level ever in living memory, and we've got people who have been here for a long time. If you look back into the mists of time you don't have this."
Prime Minister David Cameron said he thought the Environment Agency had done "excellent work" helping communities deal with flooding.Prime Minister David Cameron said he thought the Environment Agency had done "excellent work" helping communities deal with flooding.
He added: "The Environment Agency has to listen to these concerns, and you do get some quite widespread concerns that the base of rivers have risen over the years, I think they have to address those and give some clear answer."He added: "The Environment Agency has to listen to these concerns, and you do get some quite widespread concerns that the base of rivers have risen over the years, I think they have to address those and give some clear answer."
The weekend weather caused power outages in south-east England where more than 1,000 homes were left without electricity. Racing at Plumpton, east Sussex, was abandoned on Monday due to the course being waterlogged and ferry crossings between Weymouth and the Channel Islands were cancelled due to adverse weather.
A spokeswoman for UK Power Networks said by Sunday evening only "one or two single premises" were still waiting to be reconnected.
In Surrey - one of the counties hit by power cuts - eyewitnesses in Chobham reported a "mini-tornado" so strong it lifted feral cats into the air like "paper bags".
There were reports of a second tornado further north in Warwickshire where some families had to seek overnight shelter at a community hall.
The weather caused some travel disruption in parts of the UK over the weekend.The weather caused some travel disruption in parts of the UK over the weekend.
The heaviest rainfall was in Wales, where about 22mm (0.9in) came down in 12 hours.The heaviest rainfall was in Wales, where about 22mm (0.9in) came down in 12 hours.
Arriva Trains Wales say the line between Machynlleth and Pwllhelli, remains closed until 10 February following recent flooding.Arriva Trains Wales say the line between Machynlleth and Pwllhelli, remains closed until 10 February following recent flooding.
And Southern says a recent major landslip means a very limited service is running between Horsham and Dorking - and is unlikely to open until early February.And Southern says a recent major landslip means a very limited service is running between Horsham and Dorking - and is unlikely to open until early February.
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