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UK floods: 5,000 more troops on standby as water continues to rise UK floods: 5,000 more troops on standby as water continues to rise
(35 minutes later)
An extra 5,000 troops are on standby to support communities hit by flooding, it was announced on Sunday, as the government faced calls for a halt to home building on flood plains.An extra 5,000 troops are on standby to support communities hit by flooding, it was announced on Sunday, as the government faced calls for a halt to home building on flood plains.
Large swaths of the UK remain on high alert with severe flood warnings still in place along the Thames and in Somerset where water levels continue to rise despite a respite from the storms.Large swaths of the UK remain on high alert with severe flood warnings still in place along the Thames and in Somerset where water levels continue to rise despite a respite from the storms.
Defence secretary Philip Hammond said 3,000 troops were currently deployed, and another 5,000 were available. He admitted the armed forces could have been despatched earlier to help.Defence secretary Philip Hammond said 3,000 troops were currently deployed, and another 5,000 were available. He admitted the armed forces could have been despatched earlier to help.
Royal Engineers would compile a rapid assessment of the damage to Britain's infrastructure following weeks of high winds and torrential rain, he said.Royal Engineers would compile a rapid assessment of the damage to Britain's infrastructure following weeks of high winds and torrential rain, he said.
He defended home building on flood plains, insisting a "balance" had to be struck between the risks and economic development.He defended home building on flood plains, insisting a "balance" had to be struck between the risks and economic development.
"The guidance on building on flood plains is very clear. But look, the whole of the Thames Valley is a flood plain," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show."The guidance on building on flood plains is very clear. But look, the whole of the Thames Valley is a flood plain," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.
"There has to be a proper balance. We need to avoid the highest flood risk areas. When we do build in lower flood risk areas we need to make sure that properties are built in a way that minimises the risk of flooding, both at the level of the individual property and at the way development is designed."There has to be a proper balance. We need to avoid the highest flood risk areas. When we do build in lower flood risk areas we need to make sure that properties are built in a way that minimises the risk of flooding, both at the level of the individual property and at the way development is designed.
"It's very easy to say today, because we are in the middle of this crisis, flood resilience is the only issue. It's a very important issue but it is not the only issue. We have to balance economic growth, maintaining people's standards of living, flood resilience in the long term – all of these things need to be balanced together"."It's very easy to say today, because we are in the middle of this crisis, flood resilience is the only issue. It's a very important issue but it is not the only issue. We have to balance economic growth, maintaining people's standards of living, flood resilience in the long term – all of these things need to be balanced together".
Mark Wilson, chief executive of the insurance company Aviva, called for a halt to building on "defenceless" flood plains, and for houses to be given a "flood rating". "As a nation we need to build more homes, but the cost of development must include the cost of defences.Mark Wilson, chief executive of the insurance company Aviva, called for a halt to building on "defenceless" flood plains, and for houses to be given a "flood rating". "As a nation we need to build more homes, but the cost of development must include the cost of defences.
"Let's be crystal clear: no defences, no development," he told the Sunday Telegraph. Conservative peer Lord Krebs has also called for an "honest assessment", claiming "we are still slapping up homes and business properties in flood plain areas"."Let's be crystal clear: no defences, no development," he told the Sunday Telegraph. Conservative peer Lord Krebs has also called for an "honest assessment", claiming "we are still slapping up homes and business properties in flood plain areas".
Forecasters predicted some respite this week as largely fine weather with lighter winds and less rain is expected for the next five days.Forecasters predicted some respite this week as largely fine weather with lighter winds and less rain is expected for the next five days.
David Cameron said: "Thankfully, it does appear that we will see less rain and wind over the next few days ... However, after so much rain over recent weeks, groundwater levels remain very high and in many places will continue to rise." On Sunday night, David Cameron attended a Cobra meeting for updates on the situation. Afterwards, he said: "After a thankfully calm day today, some rain is expected at times next week, though not to the levels we have seen. But this additional rainfall will add to high groundwater levels and will impact slow feeding rivers over the days ahead.
The Environment Agency has 16 severe flood warnings in place for south-west England and the Thames Valley, as well as nearly 150 flood warnings and 230 flood alerts. "I am hopeful that the work to strengthen long-term flood defences, and the emergency measures which have been put in place over recent days and weeks will mean that we can minimise the number of homes and businesses affected by the latest high water levels.
"The recent flooding has been a tragedy for all those affected and my thoughts are with them. While it is of no comfort to those individuals, over 1.3 million other homes have been protected since December and we will continue to invest in flood defence measures to protect even more.
"Extensive efforts to protect and repair properties and infrastructure are ongoing by many thousands of people among agencies, the military and the emergency services. I speak for us all when I thank them profusely for their hard work." The Environment Agency has 16 severe flood warnings in place for south-west England and the Thames Valley, as well as nearly 150 flood warnings and 230 flood alerts.
The Thames Barrier was closed again on Sunday for a record 18th consecutive time while the largest pumping operation ever undertaken in Somerset continued with 54 pumps working around the clock to drain more than one million tonnes of water per day. Some pumps have had to be switched off as they were eroding the river bank.The Thames Barrier was closed again on Sunday for a record 18th consecutive time while the largest pumping operation ever undertaken in Somerset continued with 54 pumps working around the clock to drain more than one million tonnes of water per day. Some pumps have had to be switched off as they were eroding the river bank.
An Environment Agency spokeswoman confirmed it was looking into how to get them working safely again. River levels on the Severn remain high but are now falling gradually, the agency added.An Environment Agency spokeswoman confirmed it was looking into how to get them working safely again. River levels on the Severn remain high but are now falling gradually, the agency added.
First Great Western said it planned to restore most services in and out of London Paddington from Monday . Paul Leinster, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: "Despite an improving forecast, the risk of flooding will continue for many communities in southern parts of England over the next few days. We ask people to remain vigilant and take action where necessary."First Great Western said it planned to restore most services in and out of London Paddington from Monday . Paul Leinster, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: "Despite an improving forecast, the risk of flooding will continue for many communities in southern parts of England over the next few days. We ask people to remain vigilant and take action where necessary."
Leinster said more than 1.3m properties have been protected since the start of December thanks to agency defences. Almost one million homes have been without power after downpours and high winds during the last week.Leinster said more than 1.3m properties have been protected since the start of December thanks to agency defences. Almost one million homes have been without power after downpours and high winds during the last week.
Three people died on Friday: minicab driver Julie Sillitoe, 49, whose car was hit by falling masonry close to Holborn underground station in central London, and James Swinstead, 85, after the 22,000-tonne Marco Polo cruise ship was hit by a freak wave in the English Channel. Sophie Williams, a 20-year-old pregnant woman from Tredegar, South Wales, also died in a crash on the A465 between Brynmawr and Garnlydan as she drove home with her fiance after a Valentine's Day meal.Three people died on Friday: minicab driver Julie Sillitoe, 49, whose car was hit by falling masonry close to Holborn underground station in central London, and James Swinstead, 85, after the 22,000-tonne Marco Polo cruise ship was hit by a freak wave in the English Channel. Sophie Williams, a 20-year-old pregnant woman from Tredegar, South Wales, also died in a crash on the A465 between Brynmawr and Garnlydan as she drove home with her fiance after a Valentine's Day meal.
A 20ft deep sinkhole appeared under a cul-de-sac in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.A 20ft deep sinkhole appeared under a cul-de-sac in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
Surrey police warned of an increase in "tourists" coming to view the flooded areas with residents complaining that vehicles driving through flood waters at speed were causing waves to wash into people's properties.Surrey police warned of an increase in "tourists" coming to view the flooded areas with residents complaining that vehicles driving through flood waters at speed were causing waves to wash into people's properties.
In a tweet, the force said: "If you've bought your 4x4 to Surrey to 'come and play in the floods', please go home, and take your bow waves with you."In a tweet, the force said: "If you've bought your 4x4 to Surrey to 'come and play in the floods', please go home, and take your bow waves with you."
Firefighters and other agencies have rescued 1,119 people from flooded homes near the Thames since the flooding began.Firefighters and other agencies have rescued 1,119 people from flooded homes near the Thames since the flooding began.
Police said the storms had caused more unexploded shells to wash up in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and warned people not to touch anything they believed to be unexploded ordnance.Police said the storms had caused more unexploded shells to wash up in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and warned people not to touch anything they believed to be unexploded ordnance.