23/6/08 - Letter to Dr Leinster about EFRA recommendations with EA reply at top
67 Lawn Close
Datchet
Berks SL3 9LA
5 June 2008
Dr Paul Leinster (Acting CEO)
Environment Agency
Rio House, Waterside Drive
Aztec West, Almondsbury
Bristol BS32 4UD
Dear Dr Leinster
House of Commons EFRA Committee – Flooding - Fifth Report of Session 2007–08 Volume 1
You will be aware of this recent report on flooding. For your convenience I have reproduced paragraphs 80 to 83 inclusive below:
80. Our inquiry has showed that maintenance of watercourses is one of the
major issues of public concern. Too often, local people—who are the ones closest
to the problem, and with most at risk—are frozen out of the decision-making
process about watercourse
maintenance. Given the enormous level of interest, we believe it is
appropriate that local people have to be involved, and consulted, in the
formulation of decisions about
watercourse and river maintenance. The Agency, and local authorities, must open
up
dialogue with members of the public, through appropriate local fora, to ensure
that
they are part of this process. This would at least ensure that local people
have opportunity to discuss their concerns with Agency, or other, staff, and
that public expectations are managed appropriately.
81. Once decisions have been made, the Agency should make clear, via its
website or
other means, the maintenance programme for all its watercourses—even if this, in
some cases, is minimal—including the risk assessment which the Agency has made
in
deciding its approach to maintenance of a particular watercourse. The future
schedule
of maintenance should be announced whenever possible.
82. The Government should ask the Environment Agency and Natural England
to agree on how to resolve any conflict between effective drainage for flood
defence purposes and the preservation of watercourses as important wildlife
habitats, and publish the results.
83. The Government should re-examine the money available for the
maintenance of
watercourses and produce a clear analysis, by the end of 2008, of the balance
between
maintenance and capital spend, bearing in mind the National Audit Office’s
conclusions, the scepticism of the public that not enough maintenance is being
done,
and the views of the Environment Agency.
a) Can you please let me know when and how the Agency is going to involve and consult local people in the formulation of decisions about watercourse and river maintenance?
b) How is the Agency going to open dialogue with members of the public, to ensure that they (the public) are actually part of this process?
c) How will the Agency make clear the maintenance programme for all its watercourses to the public and when will this become available to the public?
d) How and when will resolutions of conflicts between EA and Natural be published?
e) Please confirm that there will be a clear analysis of the money available for the maintenance of watercourses by the end of 2008, with particular reference to the balance between maintenance and capital spend?
Yours sincerely
Ewan Larcombe
Copy:
Chris Smith
Sir John Harman
Local MPs and Councillors
Media