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Prince Charles visiting flooded Somerset Levels Prince Charles visiting flooded Somerset Levels
(35 minutes later)
Prince Charles is meeting residents, farmers and emergency services staff in the flood-hit Somerset Levels.Prince Charles is meeting residents, farmers and emergency services staff in the flood-hit Somerset Levels.
He is being joined by staff of the Prince's Countryside Fund, which is donating £50,000 to help the area.He is being joined by staff of the Prince's Countryside Fund, which is donating £50,000 to help the area.
Thousands of hectares of land remain under water in the area, where whole villages have been cut off.Thousands of hectares of land remain under water in the area, where whole villages have been cut off.
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. The government is giving an additional £300,000 to help communities hit by the severe winter floods, bringing its total cash support to £7m.
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. The Prince of Wales is visiting Somerset as patron of the Countryside Fund which allocates grants to rural projects and for help in emergencies.
The Duke of Westminster has matched its funding and is donating an additional £50,000 to the area.
Victoria Elms, from The Prince's Countryside Fund, said: "Rural communities in the South West are facing a second consecutive year of flooding.
"We hope this financial aid will go some way to supporting the farmers, businesses and families who are facing severe hardships as a result of the flooding."
Prince Charles, who arrived shortly after noon and spoke to residents at Williams Hall in Stoke St Gregory, later toured the area where many communities are still cut off. He arrived in the village of Muchelney by boat.
Risk 'continues'Risk 'continues'
Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith has 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.
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.
Some residents in Somerset have rejected this, saying the authorities have not done enough to help.Some residents in Somerset have rejected this, saying the authorities have not done enough to help.
The Prince of Wales is visiting Somerset as patron of a fund which allocates grants to rural projects and for help in emergencies. Meanwhile, another unsettled week of wet and windy weather right across the UK is forecast, says BBC weather forecaster Darren Bett.
The Duke of Westminster has matched the funding and is donating an additional £50,000 to the area. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - of wind for south-western parts of the UK from Tuesday afternoon into the evening. It says winds could reach 80mph in the most exposed spots.
Victoria Elms, from The Prince's Countryside Fund, said: "Rural communities in the Southwest are facing a second consecutive year of flooding. Strong winds and heavy rain are also predicted across southern England on Wednesday, while another band of rain is expected to arrive from the south on Thursday.
"We hope this financial aid will go some way to supporting the farmers, businesses and families who are facing severe hardships as a result of the flooding."
Prince Charles, who arrived shortly after noon and spoke to residents at the Williams Hall in Stoke St Gregory, is later expected to be taken on a tour of the area.
Meanwhile, another unsettled week of wet and windy weather right across the UK is forecast, said BBC weather forecaster Darren Bett.
The Met Office, has issued a yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - of wind for south-western parts of the UK from Tuesday afternoon into the evening. It says winds could reach 80mph in the most exposed spots.
Strong winds and heavy rain is also predicted across southern England on Wednesday, while another band of rain is expected to arrive from the south on Thursday.
The Environment Agency expects the strong winds and high waves to cause flooding in coastal areas.The Environment Agency expects the strong winds and high waves to cause flooding in coastal areas.
It no longer has any "danger to life" severe flood warnings in place, but there are more than 40 lesser flood warnings - mainly in the Midlands, south-east and south-west of England - and over 150 flood alerts across England and Wales. It no longer has any "danger to life" severe flood warnings in place, but there are more than 40 lesser flood warnings - mainly in the Midlands, south-east and south-west of England - and more than 150 flood alerts across England and Wales.
The Agency said the flood risk would continue over the next week.The Agency said the flood risk would continue over the next week.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has six flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has six flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible.
Cheaper helplineCheaper helpline
Local government minister Brandon Lewis said the additional £300,000 of government funding would be on top of financial support already available to local authorities to repair bridges and roads.
He said more fire service water pumps would be sent to flood-hit areas, including the Somerset Levels.
He also confirmed that 53 local council areas affected by the severe weather had sought emergency funding from his department.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was questioned by MPs on Monday about the government's handling of the crisis.Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was questioned by MPs on Monday about the government's handling of the crisis.
He said the government was spending £100,000 a week extra to pump water in Somerset and that 7,500 properties had been flooded since the start of December.He said the government was spending £100,000 a week extra to pump water in Somerset and that 7,500 properties had been flooded since the start of December.
Mr Paterson said 21 properties were still flooded and 200 people still cut off in the Somerset villages of Muchelney, Thorney, Oath, Stathe and North Moor.
A cheaper helpline for flooding victims in England has also been opened for calls.A cheaper helpline for flooding victims in England has also been opened for calls.
The Environment Agency's new Floodline number - 0345 9881188 - was opened after complaints that callers were being charged up to 41p a minute to call the existing 0845 helpline when using a mobile phone, with the money going to a private company. The Environment Agency's new Floodline number - 0345 9881188 - was opened after complaints that callers were being charged up to 41p a minute to ring the existing 0845 helpline 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 business and severed road and rail links. Several coastal towns in south-west England were hit by fresh flooding on Monday, which disrupted businesses and severed road and rail links.
Cornwall Council said there had been "a severe amount of coastal damage". Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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