The latest floods have revealed how inadequate our sewerage and drainage system has become in many parts of the country. One of the worst features of the flooding in my area was the foul water mixing with the surface water, making clean up so much more unpleasant and difficult a task.

The government should learn the following lessons:
<ol>
<li>It’s Inspectors should not grant planning permission on flood plain, without reaching agreement with a developer on improving local drainage and expanding the capacity of the local system to the benefit of existing homes?? as well as for the protection of the new ones. Development gain will be a useful source of finance for sewer and drain improvement.</li>
<li>The Environment Agency should clean and clear ditches, culverts and flood defences more regularly to a higher standard.</li>
<li>The Environment Agency should in conjunction with private interests take action to raise river banks near to towns and important infrastructure, and should organise more drainage ditches where these could reduce the flood risk.</li>
<li>The capital programme of the Agency should be used to bring forward schemes which can do most to divert or handle water in the vulnerable places.</li>
</ol>

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