Britain needs to raise spending on flood defences from £600m to £1bn a year, says the Environment Agency in its review of the summer’s flooding. It estimated the total cost of the disaster at £4bn, including insured losses close to £3bn. Financial Times
The report makes 33 recommendations but focuses on three areas where government action is needed: more investment; better protection of “critical infrastructure” such as water and power plants; and tackling “surface water” flooding from drains and sewers rather than rivers.
It wants the government to help it extend its warning service, which alerts people by phone or text messaging if their property is in danger. Only 41% of eligible householders in high-risk areas – 276,000 people – have signed up for the free service.