The Environment Agency data analysis reveals that more than 4000 of England’s high-consequence flood defenses were rated “poor” or “very poor.” These structures consist of flood walls and embankments to outfall pipes and culverts, which protect property and lives in some of England’s most at–risk towns and cities.
Unearthed reports that “of England’s 64,000 high consequence flood defences, 4,200 were rated as either condition 4, meaning poor, or 5, meaning very poor, in 2022. According to data obtained under freedom of information rules, 7% of the country’s most important flood defences are in a poor state. Nearly 900 defences – 1.3% of the total – were judged to be in deplorable condition.”
In addition, “only 3% of all England’s high consequence defences were deemed very good or condition 1 last year, while a third was classed good. The majority – 57% – were rated fair.”
The article notes that the Environmental Agency also conducts a routine inspection of these flood defenses and carries out emergency repairs when there is a risk of floods.
When Storm Babet hit the country in early October, it caused chaos in many parts of the UK. Unearthed reports show that parts of the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire experienced record rainfall for October as Storm Babet caused flooding across England, Wales, and Scotland. The New Civil Engineer says the flood has opened a sinkhole in Scotland’s Bridge of Dun.
Floods had damaged old infrastructure, including hundreds of these flood defenses, placing EA’s handling of the country’s flood defenses under scrutiny.
Demands to fix flood defences
The New Civil Engineer further reports that campaigners have demanded the upgrade of flood defenses in the country after research revealed the bad condition of these flood protection infrastructures.
Greenpeace UK senior climate campaigner Paul Morozzo also points to the problem of climate change contributing to the situation and the need for the government to tackle the issue.
“Our crumbling flood defences are a symbolic and literal demonstration of the government’s failure to tackle the climate crisis. Storm Babet was a sobering reminder that the climate crisis is on our doorstep and that the cost – both in terms of lives lost and damage caused – is huge.
Paul Morozzo
As per the report, without bold action to cut emissions as fast as possible, “extreme storms and flooding will become more common and more intense. And without the necessary investment and upgrades, our flood defences will continue to fail.”
The Environment Agency spokesperson responded, “We prioritise maintenance where there is a significant threat to lives and livelihoods, which is supported by a £200M investment between April 2022 and March 2023 to ensure our assets were winter ready.”
Unearthed reports that while the EA maintains most of England’s flood defenses, over a quarter are privately owned. These privately owned defenses are nearly twice as likely to be in poor condition. The EA also lacks oversight and the authority to compel owners to keep them in good condition.
England faces increased flooding due to climate change. According to the Association of British Insurers, flood damage costs the country £700m of damage a year. Upgrading the country’s crucial flood defenses and tackling climate change through climate adaptation and mitigation are actions that the country urgently needs to do to minimize the loss and damage from the changing climate.
Source:
Pitcher, G. (2023, October 31). Plea to upgrade England’s flood defences as ‘poor’ condition revealed. New Civil Engineer. Retrieved from https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/plea-to-upgrade-englands-flood-defences-as-poor-condition-revealed-31-10-2023
Clarke, J. (2023, October 30). Thousands of England’s flood defences were in poor condition before storms hit. Unearthed. Retrieved from https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2023/10/30/flood-defences-storm-babet-england/
UK weather: Storm Babet followed by new Met Office warnings of flooding risk after days of dangerous conditions. (2023, 24 October). Sky News. Retrieved from https://news.sky.com/story/uk-weather-heavy-rain-to-fall-on-parts-of-the-country-days-after-storm-babet-left-at-least-seven-people-dead-12991389
Pitcher, G. (2023, 31 October). Plea to upgrade England’s flood defences as ‘poor’ condition revealed. New Civil Engineer. Retrieved from https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/plea-to-upgrade-englands-flood-defences-as-poor-condition-revealed-31-10-2023/
Zurich UK expands support for flood-prone customers as it joins Flood Re’s Build Back Better scheme. (2023, 14 June). Zurich. Retrieved from https://www.zurich.co.uk/media-centre/zurich-uk-expands-support-for-flood-prone-customers
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