The warming has come about since the release of the report on Winter Floods which was published by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
The committee chairman Anne McIntosh said “Funding for maintenance remains at a bare minimum. Ministers must take action now to avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by the winter floods.”
The report calls for fully funded plans to address the backlog of dredging and watercourse maintenance, regular work to dredging and keep rivers clear could be an essential flood prevention measure. The committee has also urged the government to address the confusion over maintenance responsibilities through a widespread education campaign. The report has also recommended a pilot river maintenance scheme, allowing farmers and landowners in England to carry out work to de-silt watercourses should now be rolled out nationally.
Farm leaders are happy that the committee has called on Defra to revisit its flood funding policy.