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Somerset flood delay a 'tragedy', says Prince Charles Somerset flood delay a 'tragedy', says Prince Charles
(about 3 hours later)
The Prince of Wales has met residents and farmers in the flood-hit Somerset Levels and said it was a "tragedy" that nothing had happened for so long.The Prince of Wales has met residents and farmers in the flood-hit Somerset Levels and said it was a "tragedy" that nothing had happened for so long.
Thousands of hectares of land remain under water in the area, where whole villages have been cut off for weeks.Thousands of hectares of land remain under water in the area, where whole villages have been cut off for weeks.
Residents have expressed anger at the pace at which the Environment Agency and the government have responded.Residents have expressed anger at the pace at which the Environment Agency and the government have responded.
The Met Office is warning of more rain and strong winds in the south-west of the UK, with gusts of up to 60mph.The Met Office is warning of more rain and strong winds in the south-west of the UK, with gusts of up to 60mph.
Three severe flood warnings - meaning there is a danger to life - have been issued by the Environment Agency for Weymouth, Lyme Regis Harbour and West Bay Harbour in Dorset. The warnings will remain in force until after high tide at 10:00 GMT on Wednesday.
"Very strong winds and high waves are expected along the Dorset coast overnight and on Wednesday morning," the Environment Agency says.
Meanwhile, train companies have warned services may be cancelled or delayed due to the predicted stormy weather.
Southeastern says Network Rail has put in place a 40 mph speed restriction across parts of its network between 23:00 GMT and Wednesday evening. South West Trains says it may be necessary to impose a speed restriction of 50mph on certain routes between 10:00 and 19:00 GMT on Wednesday.
'Feels sorry'
Speaking during his visit to Somerset, the Prince of Wales said: "There's nothing like a jolly good disaster to get people to start doing something.Speaking during his visit to Somerset, the Prince of Wales said: "There's nothing like a jolly good disaster to get people to start doing something.
"The tragedy is that nothing happened for so long.""The tragedy is that nothing happened for so long."
Many residents have said there has been a slow response from the authorities to the flooding, which has affected many parts of the Somerset Levels since the end of December.Many residents have said there has been a slow response from the authorities to the flooding, which has affected many parts of the Somerset Levels since the end of December.
Some have also suggested that a lack of river dredging by the Environment Agency could have exacerbated the scale of the flooding.Some have also suggested that a lack of river dredging by the Environment Agency could have exacerbated the scale of the flooding.
'Feels sorry'
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson - who visited the area last week - was harangued by some residents about the "Third World" conditions they were living in.Environment Secretary Owen Paterson - who visited the area last week - was harangued by some residents about the "Third World" conditions they were living in.
The Prince of Wales also said during his visit that he "feels very sorry for all the people affected by the flooding".The Prince of Wales also said during his visit that he "feels very sorry for all the people affected by the flooding".
Asked to respond to the Prince's comments, David Cameron's official spokesman said: "The prime minister has repeatedly said... that the situation that a number of communities in the Somerset area find themselves in is unacceptable.Asked to respond to the Prince's comments, David Cameron's official spokesman said: "The prime minister has repeatedly said... that the situation that a number of communities in the Somerset area find themselves in is unacceptable.
"That is why the government is working so closely with the Environment Agency, the local authority and other agencies to do as much as we can to help those communities.""That is why the government is working so closely with the Environment Agency, the local authority and other agencies to do as much as we can to help those communities."
The Met Office's yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - also applies across southern England and Wales on Wednesday. Between 10 and 20mm of rain is predicted.The Met Office's yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - also applies across southern England and Wales on Wednesday. Between 10 and 20mm of rain is predicted.
Another band of rain is expected to arrive from the south on Thursday, adds the Met Office.Another band of rain is expected to arrive from the south on Thursday, adds the Met Office.
The Environment Agency says it expects the strong winds and high waves to cause flooding in coastal areas. The number of flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - has been rising through the day. It now stands at more than 60 - most of them in the Midlands, south-east and south-west of England.
It no longer has any "danger to life" severe flood warnings in place, but there are more than 50 lesser flood warnings - mainly in the Midlands, south-east and south-west of England - and more than 180 flood alerts across England and Wales. There are also more than 200 flood alerts across England and Wales.
But the agency said the flood risk would continue over the next week. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has seven flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has six flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible. In Cornwall, the local authority estimated storms in the last month have caused more than £4m of damage across the county.
The Prince of Wales visited the Somerset Levels as patron of the Prince's Countryside Fund, which allocates grants to rural projects and for help in emergencies.The Prince of Wales visited the Somerset Levels as patron of the Prince's Countryside Fund, which allocates grants to rural projects and for help in emergencies.
He arrived shortly after noon and spoke to people at Williams Hall in Stoke St Gregory before touring the area.He arrived shortly after noon and spoke to people at Williams Hall in Stoke St Gregory before touring the area.
Prince Charles was taken to the village of Muchelney by boat and later climbed on to a tractor-towed trailer for a journey along flooded roads to a farm in Thorney.Prince Charles was taken to the village of Muchelney by boat and later climbed on to a tractor-towed trailer for a journey along flooded roads to a farm in Thorney.
The Prince's Countryside Fund is donating £50,000 to help the region. It has allocated £25,000 to the Farming Help Partnership, with the remainder given to the Somerset Community Foundation.The Prince's Countryside Fund is donating £50,000 to help the region. It has allocated £25,000 to the Farming Help Partnership, with the remainder given to the Somerset Community Foundation.
Earlier, Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith told the BBC dredging of river channels was part of the answer for Somerset but a comprehensive solution was needed.Earlier, Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith told the BBC dredging of river channels was part of the answer for Somerset but a comprehensive solution was needed.
He said one option in future was to try to hold back water further up the catchment to prevent so much reaching the Levels, which lie below sea level.He said one option in future was to try to hold back water further up the catchment to prevent so much reaching the Levels, which lie below sea level.
But Lord Smith reiterated there was not a limitless amount of money available for tackling floods.But Lord Smith reiterated there was not a limitless amount of money available for tackling floods.
"Most people would say lives come first, and homes and businesses have to come after that," he said."Most people would say lives come first, and homes and businesses have to come after that," he said.
On Monday, the government announced an additional £300,000 of funding on top of financial support already available to local authorities to repair bridges and roads, bringing its total cash support to £7m.On Monday, the government announced an additional £300,000 of funding on top of financial support already available to local authorities to repair bridges and roads, bringing its total cash support to £7m.
The Environment Agency has opened a cheaper helpline for flooding victims in England after complaints that callers were being charged up to 41p a minute to ring the existing number when using a mobile phone, with the money going to a private company.The Environment Agency has opened a cheaper helpline for flooding victims in England after complaints that callers were being charged up to 41p a minute to ring the existing number when using a mobile phone, with the money going to a private company.
Several coastal towns in south-west England were hit by fresh flooding on Monday, which disrupted businesses and severed road and rail links.
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