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| UK floods: Government 'made a mistake' by not dredging | UK floods: Government 'made a mistake' by not dredging |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Communities Secretary Eric Pickles says the government "made a mistake" and should have dredged the flood-hit Somerset Levels. | Communities Secretary Eric Pickles says the government "made a mistake" and should have dredged the flood-hit Somerset Levels. |
| He told the Andrew Marr Show it may have relied too much on the Environment Agency's advice and it now recognises that the area should have been dredged. | |
| The minister apologised "unreservedly" to those affected by the flooding. | The minister apologised "unreservedly" to those affected by the flooding. |
| It comes as weather and flood warnings are still in place for much of the south-west UK. | It comes as weather and flood warnings are still in place for much of the south-west UK. |
| All rail routes into Devon and Cornwall remain cut off by the problems caused by the flooding and the storm damage, as well as a landslip in Somerset, while home owners have been warned to expect flooding in Surrey after the River Thames burst its banks in Chertsey. | All rail routes into Devon and Cornwall remain cut off by the problems caused by the flooding and the storm damage, as well as a landslip in Somerset, while home owners have been warned to expect flooding in Surrey after the River Thames burst its banks in Chertsey. |
| There will be no respite though, as further heavy rain is expected this week. | There will be no respite though, as further heavy rain is expected this week. |
| On the Somerset Levels, recent rainfall has meant water levels have increased by about a quarter of an inch (0.6cm) an hour in Burrowbridge. | On the Somerset Levels, recent rainfall has meant water levels have increased by about a quarter of an inch (0.6cm) an hour in Burrowbridge. |
| The Environment Agency has faced criticism that it had not done enough to help those affected. | The Environment Agency has faced criticism that it had not done enough to help those affected. |
| Repeated calls for dredging were made to government departments by farmers and others in the region at least six months ago but funding was declined. | Repeated calls for dredging were made to government departments by farmers and others in the region at least six months ago but funding was declined. |
| The area has not been dredged - a process which removes silt from river channels so that water can flow through - since the late 1990s, according to Prime Minister David Cameron who visited the area on Friday. | The area has not been dredged - a process which removes silt from river channels so that water can flow through - since the late 1990s, according to Prime Minister David Cameron who visited the area on Friday. |
| Mr Pickles, who has now been put in charge of the government's flood defence, said: "We made a mistake, there's no doubt about that. | Mr Pickles, who has now been put in charge of the government's flood defence, said: "We made a mistake, there's no doubt about that. |
| "We perhaps relied too much on the Environment Agency's advice. | "We perhaps relied too much on the Environment Agency's advice. |
| "I think we recognise now that we should have dredged and I think it's important now that we get on with the process of getting people back into their houses, and really do some serious pumping." | "I think we recognise now that we should have dredged and I think it's important now that we get on with the process of getting people back into their houses, and really do some serious pumping." |
| He added: "I apologise unreservedly and I'm really sorry that we took the advice, we thought we were dealing with experts." | He added: "I apologise unreservedly and I'm really sorry that we took the advice, we thought we were dealing with experts." |
| Speaking in Burrowbridge, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he thought the response was "too little, too late". | Speaking in Burrowbridge, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he thought the response was "too little, too late". |
| He said he welcomed Mr Pickles's apology, but called for a public inquiry into how the country deals with river management. | He said he welcomed Mr Pickles's apology, but called for a public inquiry into how the country deals with river management. |
| And Tessa Munt, MP for Wells, said: "I bought the flooding minister here to see the whole area back in April last year and we made very clear the need for dredging then, and I think it hasn't happened fast enough but now it's going to happen." | |
| Landslip | Landslip |
| A local council leader has also called for the government to do more to help flood victims. | A local council leader has also called for the government to do more to help flood victims. |
| Rachel Sutton, acting leader of Exeter City Council, said more money was needed to improve rail lines. | Rachel Sutton, acting leader of Exeter City Council, said more money was needed to improve rail lines. |
| She said rail lines were blocked near Exeter 12 months ago because of flooding, and government funding was needed to protect lines which were "vulnerable in a number of places". | She said rail lines were blocked near Exeter 12 months ago because of flooding, and government funding was needed to protect lines which were "vulnerable in a number of places". |
| "The local authorities can't do this on their own, particularly when we're having to cut back because of cuts to our grant from central government," she said. | "The local authorities can't do this on their own, particularly when we're having to cut back because of cuts to our grant from central government," she said. |
| Network Rail said a landslip at Crewkerne and flooding near Bridgwater and Athelney meant there were "no routes to the West Country open to trains". | Network Rail said a landslip at Crewkerne and flooding near Bridgwater and Athelney meant there were "no routes to the West Country open to trains". |
| It said the Yeovil-Exeter line at Crewkerne would be closed for "at least a week", and it was "too early to say" when the Bridgwater section would reopen. | It said the Yeovil-Exeter line at Crewkerne would be closed for "at least a week", and it was "too early to say" when the Bridgwater section would reopen. |
| "The floods are currently being blown into waves by the high winds in the area, which are washing away the stones the track rests on," a spokesman said on Saturday. | "The floods are currently being blown into waves by the high winds in the area, which are washing away the stones the track rests on," a spokesman said on Saturday. |
| "The route via Athelney is under water but will be assessed as soon as the flood level drops." | "The route via Athelney is under water but will be assessed as soon as the flood level drops." |
| In Dawlish, where the main line between Devon and Cornwall was destroyed by waves on Tuesday, concrete has been sprayed on to the cliff behind the track to make the area safer in the face of continuing high winds and large waves. | In Dawlish, where the main line between Devon and Cornwall was destroyed by waves on Tuesday, concrete has been sprayed on to the cliff behind the track to make the area safer in the face of continuing high winds and large waves. |
| Network Rail said work at the site was "progressing well" in six-hour shifts in between high tides. | Network Rail said work at the site was "progressing well" in six-hour shifts in between high tides. |
| However, Dan Panes from First Great Western said the weather was hampering efforts to repair the track. | However, Dan Panes from First Great Western said the weather was hampering efforts to repair the track. |
| He added that it was going to take four to six weeks to sort out, however that timescale was changing each day due to the weather conditions. | He added that it was going to take four to six weeks to sort out, however that timescale was changing each day due to the weather conditions. |
| "As soon as we get the green light from them [Network Rail] we'll be running our services again but it's a tough time for Network Rail at the moment," he said. | "As soon as we get the green light from them [Network Rail] we'll be running our services again but it's a tough time for Network Rail at the moment," he said. |
| Speaking outside Plymouth Rail Station, BBC reporter Simon Clemison said there was a general feeling that the South West was left out when it comes to transport links. | Speaking outside Plymouth Rail Station, BBC reporter Simon Clemison said there was a general feeling that the South West was left out when it comes to transport links. |
| Strong winds and heavy showers affected much of the UK, especially southern areas, on Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday, with gusts up to 80mph on the coasts of Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and west Wales. | Strong winds and heavy showers affected much of the UK, especially southern areas, on Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday, with gusts up to 80mph on the coasts of Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and west Wales. |
| 'No end in sight' | 'No end in sight' |
| Peter Sloss, of the BBC Weather Centre, said the wind and rain would ease for most of the UK during Sunday, with showers "less heavy and less frequent". | Peter Sloss, of the BBC Weather Centre, said the wind and rain would ease for most of the UK during Sunday, with showers "less heavy and less frequent". |
| He said the improvement would continue into Monday, though falling temperatures would mean some wintry showers. | He said the improvement would continue into Monday, though falling temperatures would mean some wintry showers. |
| But he said there was "no real end in sight", with another area of low pressure reaching the UK on Monday night and into Tuesday, bringing more heavy rain. | But he said there was "no real end in sight", with another area of low pressure reaching the UK on Monday night and into Tuesday, bringing more heavy rain. |
| He also warned flood waters could continue to rise as rainfall worked its way through river systems. | He also warned flood waters could continue to rise as rainfall worked its way through river systems. |
| BBC Weather forecaster Laura Gilchrist added that Tuesday could see as much as 30mm (1in) fall in Wales and the South West on Tuesday, and that there was no respite as more heavy rain is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. | |
| The Environment Agency has issued two severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - two in Somerset and one for Chiswell in the Isle of Portland. | The Environment Agency has issued two severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - two in Somerset and one for Chiswell in the Isle of Portland. |
| The agency has also issued more than 180 flood warnings and almost 300 flood alerts. | The agency has also issued more than 180 flood warnings and almost 300 flood alerts. |
| A Met Office yellow warning for wind covering much of southern England and south Wales expires at 12:00 GMT, but further rain warnings have been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday. | A Met Office yellow warning for wind covering much of southern England and south Wales expires at 12:00 GMT, but further rain warnings have been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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