A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

[Tarw Coch]

They certainly didn’t use the contractor that did the Lugg last year, he did an incredible job!

Aye, and look at the flak he got for that, made the news headlines and every celebrity countryside expert lined up to condemn him.
Where are they all now?

Yet another example of why I think this country’s fekked

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Can they put the clay back? Is that a silly question?

 

[Al R]

Can they put the clay back? Is that a silly question?

Drain all of the water out and then may be possible, basically no.

 

[Hilly]

That’s shocking !! Imagine if a farmer had done that , they must be made to repair that .

 

[onthehoof]

For anyone who doesn't know the Fens, the river here sits about 15ft higher than the surrounding land, the only thing keeping the water in the river is the clay, like an irrigation reservoir which is basically what it is

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Drain all of the water out and then may be possible, basically no.

I think the people responsible should be jailed then, as a minimum. Working for a non departmental government body, every thing that happens needs a method statement and risk assessment. These were either not sufficient or up to standard, or they were and the contractor chose to ignore them. If those responsible were punished, maybe we as a country (and especially our public servants) would up their game.

 

[Hilly]

For anyone who doesn't know the Fens, the river here sits about 15ft higher than the surrounding land, the only thing keeping the water in the river is the clay, like an irrigation reservoir

How long before it will start to leak so you thjnk ? Have they stopped or still digging ?

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Thinking about it, there were probably quite a few method statements that looked at Newts, Water Voles, Badgers etc but may not have been any that identified the puddled clay lining to the river.

 

[onthehoof]

Who actually did the work ? Was is EA staff or a contractor ?

Would have been a contractor, EA don't have any machines any more, but would have thought there would have been a raft of paperwork, as some have suggested the actual spec of doing it got lost among the water vole plan/kingfisher plan/newt plan/risk assessment.
Ironically they've just spent millions and 5 years strengthening the bank the other side

 

[Adeptandy]

…..and they’re still doing it

 

[onthehoof]

Drain all of the water out and then may be possible, basically no.

The river is tidal here, its holding back the North Sea

 

[tepapa]

So if that river now floods hundreds/thousands of acres of productive land in the fens, who pays out the compo?

 

[Adeptandy]

So if that river now floods hundreds/thousands of acres of productive land in the fens, who pays out the compo?

extran anyone, might have a couple of load to sell if it does

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Crikey! Now that's a proper f**kup

 

[stroller]

For anyone who doesn't know the Fens, the river here sits about 15ft higher than the surrounding land, the only thing keeping the water in the river is the clay, like an irrigation reservoir which is basically what it is

@onthehoof
Was it always higher or has the surrounding land eroded over the years?

 

[teslacoils]

Remember these aren't farmers they are quangos:

a Beardy will come out and look contrite.
Senior "Mr Whippy-Head" will say lessons have been learnt.
Few folk will go on long term sick due to stress.
Couple of others will be redeployed, or expensively retrained.

It will need to be fixed. I'd be surprised if there weren't harsh provisions in various byelaws for its misrepair, and think of the claims from those who rely on it to remain above water.

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

Remember these aren't farmers they are quangos:

a Beardy will come out and look contrite.
Senior "Mr Whippy-Head" will say lessons have been learnt.
Few folk will go on long term sick due to stress.
Couple of others will be redeployed, or expensively retrained.

It will need to be fixed. I'd be surprised if there weren't harsh provisions in various byelaws for its misrepair, and think of the claims from those who rely on it to remain above water.

The favourite saying of all wrong doing civil servants

 

[teslacoils]

The favourite saying of all wrong doing civil servants

Before they shuffle off to another quango with a golden handshake and non disclosure agreement.

 

[Yale]

If that goes it will go at the worst possible time during flooding and high tides and will be maximum damage.

Scary!

 

[teslacoils]

Has it actually been reported on any other media outlet?