NFU Cymru members oppose agency flood plans
A packed NFU Cymru meeting at Welshpool's Royal Oak Hotel recently gave an unequivocal message of opposition to the Environment Agency's plans to 'deliberately increase' the frequency of flooding along the Rivers Severn and Vyrnwy.
The meeting, convened by NFU Cymru and chaired by NFU Cymru County Chairman Bob Morgan attracted farmers and landowners along with other business interests and private households all of whom shared similar concerns to the Agency's plans.
NFU Cymru County Chairman, Bob Morgan said, "We've already expressed our grave concern at proposals contained in the Agency's consultation on a (draft) River Severn Catchment Flood Management Plan. The views expressed in the meeting merely endorse what NFU Cymru has said all along that the principle of increasing the frequency of flooding here in Montgomeryshire so as to deliver benefits elsewhere is simply unacceptable."
One bone of contention expressed by many at the meeting was that the consultation period has been far too short to allow for meaningful debate and consideration of their plans with many believing that this is an attempt to limit, even stifle debate on the Environment Agency's plans although, whilst this view was shared by NFU Cymru it has identified many other priority issues.
NFU Cymru Farm Policy Adviser Kevin Owen said, "The starting point for NFU Cymru is that there cannot be an automatic presumption that agricultural land can be sacrificed to protect new urban developments and if flood storage areas are sought, full and proper consultation should be conducted with full and proper compensation paid through good discussion and agreement.
"The CFMP needs to recognize the importance of agricultural land. Agriculture is a commercial interest but is not afforded the same consideration as for example, industrial and commercial concerns. A sustainable productive agricultural industry is a critical but disappointingly an often undervalued asset for the UK not least now where we see the issue of food security high on the political agenda.
"We as NFU Cymru are preparing our response but basically we will be taking the EA to task on a number of issues not least the need to review management priorities and even legislation so as to allow present 'arrangements' in relation to the Clywedog Reservoir and Lake Vyrnwy to be amended where they currently endanger people and property. Further withdrawal of regular EA maintenance on many tributaries is just lacking in 'common sense' and will lead to obstruction and blockage of water courses slowing down flows.
"NFU Cymru oppose any suggestion or recommendation of large scale re-wetting schemes without full prior consultation with landowners and fair and just compensation mechanisms. Flood storage areas require management prescriptions, payment for which has not been factored into current environmental schemes so we have to ask the Agency whether it has the money for such projects.
"Our chief concern though has to be in relation to the implication that flooding would be deliberately increased over the entire policy unit area here in Montgomeryshire. This is unacceptable to us. Clearly, a disproportionate impact of this policy will inevitably fall upon farmers and rural dwellers and it is a policy 'principle' that NFU Cymru simply cannot support and could only consider with an indication of the kind of actions proposed and secondly a firm assurance that adequate funding provision will be available to mitigate the quite substantial losses that individual businesses and home-owners will suffer."
Kevin Owen concluded with, "Without these assurances NFU Cymru simply cannot endorse or support the Agency's draft River Severn CFMP and that is how we will be responding on behalf of NFU Cymru members."
