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Outrage at flood defence cuts
February 7, 2007 12:28 AM
Flood defences like the Thames Barrier are under threat from government cuts
Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell MP and Shadow Environment Secretary Chris Huhne MP visited the Thames Barrier last week to highlight the increased threat of flooding and the dangers of climate change.
The Thames Barrier was opened in 1984 and has been raised 98 times. However there has been a sharp increase in recent years. The barrier was raised 66 times in the last ten years, compared to 27 in the ten years before that.
London's flood defences and Greenwich in particular are under threat from cuts in government budgets.
Menzies Campbell said "Flood defences like the Thames Barrier are a key part of our adaptation to the dangerous new world of climate change, yet the government has cut this year's flood defence budget by £15million."
Chris Huhne agreed "We need both to head off further climate change by cutting carbon emissions, and adapt to the climate change that is already in train by building up our defences. If the government is serious about tackling climate change and dealing with its effects, cutting the budgets essential to that quest is not a good idea."
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