THOROUGH INQUIRY INTO SUMMER FLOODS ANNOUNCED

The man leading the review into the summer floods that devastated large parts of Gloucestershire has pledged to undertake a thorough inquiry.

Sir Michael Pitt, who is the independent head of the review into the recent floods announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, also vowed to listen "very hard" to residents whose lives have been blighted by the crisis.

A public meeting will also be held in the county as part of the inquiry.

Sir Michael, aged 58, who lives on the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire border, said he will be talking to the insurance industry about problems householders are experiencing in flood-hit areas.

There are concerns that some householders in flood-hit areas are struggling to get insurance cover, while others have seen a hike in their premiums.

And among the documents to be examined by the 15-strong inquiry team led by Sir Michael will include the report by an independent watchdog, published shortly before the flooding, which revealed that less than a fifth of the region's "high risk" flood defences were up to scratch.

The Lessons Learned Review, to be carried out by the Cabinet Office with support from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Communities and Local Government, will examine why the floods were so widespread and how to predict and prevent future flooding. It will also look at the emergency response and the threat to infrastructure.

Interim findings are due to be made by New Year, with the final report published in 12 months time.

Sir Michael told the Citizen: "It's wrong to jump to conclusions about what the principle findings of the review will be.

"We are going to be holding a series of public meetings - one in each of the main areas of flooding in the country."

The review will look at drainage issues, protection of power stations and waterworks and impact on residents and social implications.

It will also be looking at the role of the emergency services, local authorities, and the military in the floods.

Sir Michael, said: "None of us will be able to underestimate the impact on people's quality of life. It's the impact of that which has hit me hardest.

"I am not in any doubt we will come up with a number of recommendations and proposals that will help deal with the implications of flooding.

"No one can prevent flooding. If anything the signs are the climatic conditions are going to become more severe, over the years the variation in weather even more marked.

"It must be the responsibility of government, central and local, and the organisations concerned to give even more attention to the impact of flooding.

"There's no evidence at the moment anyone has fallen down on the job at all. I will want to identify and pay tribute to good practice, and identify areas where further improvements can be made.

"This review is going to be thorough."

Comments can be submitted at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/floodingreview.