Here are some extracts from Party Manifestos for the 2010 General Election - (6th May 2010). 

In my opinion the new legislation (FRR 2009 and FWMB 2010) could have done much more to ensure that watercourses were properly maintained - thus reducing the probability of flooding.   

I believe that those responsible (and in particular the Environment Agency) for any watercourse should have a legal duty to maintain the conveyance capacity of channel.

THE LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO 2010 (page 8:5)

Competing pressures – from greater food production to housing and natural flood

defences – are making the management of land resources ever more challenging. We will

introduce a new framework for managing our land that can more effectively reconcile

these pressures. We will put forward new areas for protected landscape and habitat status,

focusing on green corridors and wildlife networks to link up existing sites. And we will

commit to increasing the area covered by forest and woodland.

Our air, rivers and beaches are now the cleanest they have been since the height of the industrial

revolution. We will continue to ensure progress. Having doubled spending on flood

defence over the last decade we will bring forward legislation

to improve floods and water management.

THE CONSERVATIVE MANIFESTO 2010 (page 98)

To cope with the increased risk of flooding associated with climate change,

we will take forward the findings of the Pitt Review to improve our flood defences,

prevent unnecessary building in areas of high flood risk,

and  ensure the country is better equipped when flooding does take place.

THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT  MANIFESTO 2010 (page 82)

We will:

• Stop major new housing developments in major flood risk areas.

• Crack down on waste from the water companies and introduce

compulsory smart meters in areas of shortage.

• Introduce landscape-scale planning policies with a specific remit to

restore water channels, rivers and wetlands and reduce flood risk by

properly utilising the natural capacity of the landscape to retain water.

Link to source document  http://templatelab.com/libdem_manifesto_2010/

THE UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY MANIFESTO 2010