New MP report on flood management backed by NFU

Farmers and growers will see the benefits to farmland at risk of flooding if the recommendations of a new report on flood management are implemented by Government, farm groups have said.

The House of Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) report on Managing Flood Risk, is critical of the lack of Government investment in flood risk management, and in particular watercourse maintenance.

Many of the recommendations have taken into account the views expressed in the NFU’s written evidence to the Committee, highlighting the drastic cutbacks made to revenue budgets which affect the long-term life of defence structures where maintenance is no longer carried out, and reduction in dredging of rivers and watercourses which exacerbates flooding.

NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “We are pleased that the MPs identified the risk that flooding poses to food security, and want to see it tackled before it gets worse. The condition of our rivers and their ability to convey flood flows has been a concern of farmers for many years and one brought to the fore by the flood events of the past 18 months. We hope that today’s report by MPs acts as a call to arms for the Government to invest further in the essential maintenance of watercourses and embed the true value of farming within the prioritisation of flood defence spending.

“The NFU has been pushing for a regulatory system that facilitates farmers wishing to undertake essential maintenance works in a manner sensitive to the environment, and we hope that trial measures proposed by the Environment Agency will be rolled out nationally. However, it is essential that any savings to the Environment Agency are re-invested on other sections of watercourse.

“However, there are concerns that there has been a presumption by authorities against even limited maintenance activity on some rivers owing to environmental designations or the presence of protected species. It is important that the longer-term benefits of maintenance activity to water level management, the condition of watercourses, and the presence of species such as water voles are properly recognised to ensure a more balanced debate about our water environment. Environmental designations on watercourses must not simply be seen as an excuse to do nothing in these rivers.”