(First published 11/2/2007 but the consultation itself is now closed)

Blackwhite                            (For definition follow link to Wikipedia - Newspeak words - Blackwhite)

George Orwell (of 1984 fame) would have been very impressed.  The Environment Agency’s blackwhite propaganda department has been working 24/7 recently.

Now commonly referred to as ‘the bl’iters’, these people have kept themselves occupied over recent years by adopting watercourses, amending flood maps and producing flood risk assessments for development purposes. Their simultaneous neglect of watercourses (‘deferred maintenance’?) has increased the likelihood of flooding with consequential rises in building insurance premiums.  Of course any remaining time is used to deny that the probability of flooding downstream of Windsor has been increased by their Jubilee River flood channel.

At the command of the EU, the bl’iters have now raised a consultation document ‘Managing Flood Risk – Thames Region Catchment Flood Management Plan’.  The document is peppered with spurious claims such as ‘We maintain the channels to ensure they are free of obstruction and can accommodate high flows’, ‘We carry out regular work to maintain the capacity…..’ and ‘we will continue to maintain watercourses’.

More importantly, the EA are gradually changing their strategy from ‘flood prevention’ to ‘flood risk management’.  The consultation document will allow them say ‘this change was the result of a thorough consultation’ irrespective of the small number of respondents’ contributions.

If you live in the River Thames (non-tidal) catchment area and are affected by fluvial, groundwater, sewer or flash flooding, this should be of concern to you.

For a copy of the full consultation document on CD, please contact the EA on 0118 953 5633.  The consultation closes in April 2007

Ewan Larcombe   11/2/2007