Flood defence policy; change must comne from the top and Netherlands – Yorkshire Post Letters

THE Yorkshire Post has urged the Government to convene an emergency flooding committee. You also stated “we need a bold and creative response into our policies at every level”. I could not agree more with your sentiments. I have been saying this for many years. Regretfully if we continue to employ the present organisations responsible for flood prevention you will be wasting your time.

If the people on the ‘top table’ at your emergency meeting are the same as the present ones, flooding is inevitable. They have already spent billions of pounds and all we have in return is ‘improved’ flood prevention. This is totally unacceptable, yet I have not heard of one politician who has challenged the policies or effectiveness of the organisations employed.

I have repeatedly urged the appointment of an independent flood civil engineer, from the Netherlands for example, to oversee the past, present and future work, all to no avail.

I wish you well in your endeavour, but experience gained over many years tells
me you will not succeed in achieving a flood-free country. Indeed all the signs are, it will get worse. But of course, as in the past, no one will be held responsible.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor