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FLOODED: Water laps around the Old Rectifying House, Worcester, during last year's floods

FLOOD prevention in Worcestershire and across Britain is underfunded and chaotic, a Parliamentary report has found.

A detailed investigation by MPs into last summer's disastrous flooding has concluded that the authorities are not equipped to deal with one particular type of flood - surface water flooding, caused by heavy rain and blocked or overflowing drains.

Traditionally, the Government has targeted its efforts on tackling coastal and river flooding, which the report found still pose the greatest risk to the country.

However, two-thirds of last summer's floods were actually surface-water floods, and many parts of Worcestershire were affected - often due to blocked or overflowing drains and gullies.

The House of Commons committee criticised the fact there is no single body in charge of this type of flooding, and said Government spending on overall prevention - recently increased to £800 million a year - does not take surface water floods into account.

"Management of surface water flood risk cannot remain in its current unclear and chaotic state," the report states. The MPs said local authorities such as Worcestershire County Council should be given a legal duty to deal with surface water floods, and called for more cash to deal with what is a growing problem.

Their words were welcomed by Derek Prodger, the Worcestershire county councillor in charge of the environment.

"I would certainly not be unhappy if that responsibility was put on my agenda," Coun Prodger said. "Provided, of course, we are given the funding to deal with it."

His call for more cash was echoed by Worcester flood campaigner Mary Dhonau.

"This £800 million, which the Government thinks is absolutely wonderful, has actually got to deal with every sort of flood," she said.

"Frankly, it's woefully inadequate. Local authorities no longer have the huge workforce or expertise they once had. I hope the Government is going to give them the money to deal with the situation properly."

Worcester's Labour MP Mike Foster said: "I accept there is an issue of surface water flooding that is over and above what's already been earmarked."

10:36am Thursday 8th May 2008

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