Flood Defence Budget cut 15% in real terms since 2000

There is an article in today's News of the World titled "Floody Joke" which points out that in the last 10 years this government has ignored 25 reports that flood defences need to be improved.

It also points out that John Prescott highlighted the need to tackle the problem of flood defences in 2000, yet we hear similar from Hilary Benn some 7 years later with nothing having been done in the meantime.

One of the consistent lessons highlighted has also been the need for a single point of responsibility. That should, it is said, be the Environment agency, yet this still has not been done and won't be for some time yet despite the fact that it is a recommendation from as long ago as 10 years!

Now, what we need to do is to make sure this is the story, the government ignoring what needs to be done, and Gordon Brown not providing the funds.

The Water Bowsers are empty in Gloucester

One of the things that struck me about the effects of flooding in Gloucester is that the water bowsers are empty a lot of the time. People are hunting for water, and yet there is none. Some of this is down to vandalism of a couple of bowsers, but for the most part, they are not being refiled often enough.

This is obviously causing much angst in Gloucester as it is making life much harder.

It seems Gordon Brown has ordered more tankers in, but the rather obvious answer would be to get in the Army to look after the logistics, except that we can't do that because the army are just far too busy being overstretched.