Flood alert over cash cuts

WHEN the history of this Government is written, it is the consequences of its vast spending cuts upon which it will ultimately be judged. As you would expect, many of its decisions so far have involved significant risk. It is still too early to say for certain whether cutting the deficit so fast will sink or save the economy.

But there are some cuts of which the consequences are immediately and painfully clear. Yesterday's dismal announcement on the shelving of flood defence schemes is one such case.

One thing can be said with absolute certainty – the flood waters will rise again.

It is difficult to judge whether amnesia or myopia was the driving force behind this fatally-flawed decision, which will bring worry and despair to thousands of residents and businesses.

Can the Government really have forgotten the devastating impact of the summer floods just three-and-a-half years ago?

Can it really be so short-sighted as not to see such a patently false economy?

On being handed the Environment brief last year, Caroline Spelman pledged flood defences would remain a key priority. In George Osborne's October spending review, the Chancellor mentioned only "major improvements" to flood defence schemes.

How disingenuous such statements now look to a region facing a 41 per cent funding cut.

How unrealistic, too, of the Environment Agency to insist the flood risk "remains the same" despite the shelving of future schemes.

The risk from flooding rises with every passing year as the climate grows warmer, so the need to invest extra money in defences becomes ever more imperative.

Yet Thirsk, with its long history of flooding, must now wait even longer to be offered any protection by its Government. York must continue to suffer to enable savings of just 6m, while Leeds remains in danger of a deluge.

Would such a scheme have been shelved in London? Would Boris Johnson, so successful at protecting his treasured 8bn Crossrail scheme, have allowed such a risk in his personal fiefdom? Of course not. When the floods return to Yorkshire – as they surely one day will – the Government will find voters as unforgiving as the rising tide.