Put Prince Charles in charge of environment

WITHIN a few years of the Environment Agency taking over the main responsibility for rivers 18 years ago, I made the observation that unless rivers and their tributaries were dredged regularly there would be trouble (Yorkshire Post, February 8).

The National Rivers Authority, and the regional water authorities before that, were brilliant at ensuring that this vital work was carried out frequently. Living in Ribblesdale as a boy, I was always impressed at the remedial work which was carried out on the Ribble and the becks feeding it, including the strengthening of banks and the clearance of debris. Prevention rather than cure must have saved a great deal of money.

Another complication that previously did not exist is the reluctance to put silt on fields because it is now classified as “controlled waste”.

At least it is not sewage, which as a result of the lack of action is now a major threat in Somerset.

Much of the trouble on the Somerset Levels is due to this dereliction of duty as well as the refusal to spend a proportion of its £1.2bn a year on one of the main jobs it was set up to do.

Having Lord Smith, a former Labour Culture Secretary, who currently has 11 jobs, as chairman of the Environment Agency has proved to be a disaster.

New building on flood plains and an over-emphasis on environmental issues has certainly not helped either.

Prince Charles has not always been popular with everyone, but it is a pity that someone with his knowledge of countryside issues has not been in charge of policy.

He would have been more
likely to have taken a balanced view.

Despite the unusually heavy rain in the South West, this recent disaster has not been helped by a lack of action, including no dredging since 2005.