Floods in Somerset

[JP1]

DEFRA intend to get 97% of flood defences back up to standard

 

[JP1]

Owen Paterson: Only high ratio pay back schemes will get EA funding. Lower ratio will have to have partnerships e.g. IDB , Lincolnshire Flood Strategy Group, County Councils etc

 

[JP1]

Owen Paterson wants a "Somerset Rivers Board" with farmer representation

 

[JP1]

Chris Smith EA request for more maintenance funding, EFRA ask will this be honoured

Owen Paterson and Sonia Phippard do not know "who" the independent review of partnership funding is done by and it's report is "imminent but delayed due to funding"

EFRA Committee ‏@CommonsEFRA 2m
Independent review of Partnership Funding due to report soon, confirms @DefraGovUK #ukfloods

 

[JP1]

EFRA: Main lesson from floods

Owen Paterson: Damage inflicted on property . Wants 300,000 properties protected by 2020 (subject to election .....)

 

[JP1]

EFRA: If Gov could be the insurer of last resort for a 1 in 200 year flood. The last one was one in 250. Where does that leave the Gov

Paterson: (Citing Immigham as 1 in 500) Ultimately the tax payer would pay, although local councils and householders will have responsibility (one way house bricks, flood proof doors)

 

[JP1]

EFRA : NFU states that June 2007 losses, only 5% of £550m losses were insurable. Can farmers ever get insurance?

Paterson: Govt Flood relief for houses not farmers or small businesses. ABI do not see a problem with getting insurance cover

EFRA: Not what we are hearing

EFRA: Will full market insurance pricing for homeowners and small businesses be priced out of the market. Eg blocks of flats

 

[JP1]

EFRA: Has the country been mapped while flooded so planning permissions for future housing will be highlighted EG Ebbsfleet?

OP: EA advice not to build on floodplain. Not sure if mapping has been undertaken

Committee closes

 

[JP1]

The entire Committee meeting can be seen here:

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=15258&wfs=true

You may have to download MS Silverlight to view

Hope the updates above were useful - I found it therapeutic to have to concentrate on typing rather than hurling my tea mug at the screen on occasions

You do see how this cosy World co-exists and compared with the real version - that's for sure

 

[matthew]

1. View attachment 38431EFRA Committee ‏@CommonsEFRA 1m
   SoS acknowledges that there is a 'bit of a grey area' between capital and revenue spending @DefraGovUK . #ukfloods
   
   
   
2. 
   View attachment 38432NFU Political ‏@NFUPolitical 1m
   SP "Treasury rules what can be classified as capital & what's revenue, but it's not always clear" #Floods @CommonsEFRA

Maintenance budget - such as it was - already spent?
Need to put the current work into 'upgrade' or capital spending?

I bet no one mentioned the EU Wetland Habitat Directives which drove this farce.
Just add water?

 

[JP1]

Maintenance budget - such as it was - already spent?
Need to put the current work into 'upgrade' or capital spending?

I bet no one mentioned the EU Wetland Habitat Directives which drove this farce.
Just add water?

Of course not, not from anyone #notsurewhosourfriends

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

On one show at the mo. About floods at james farm.

 

[Pilatus]

Is some of the land that was flooded since December, dry enough yet to be planted yet, with what ever crop the farmer has decided to plant. I am assuming that a large area of the levels are all having to be reseeded,due to grass being under water for so long.

 

[JP1]

Chris Smith EA request for more maintenance funding, EFRA ask will this be honoured

Owen Paterson and Sonia Phippard do not know "who" the independent review of partnership funding is done by and it's report is "imminent but delayed due to funding"

View attachment 38435EFRA Committee ‏@CommonsEFRA 2m
Independent review of Partnership Funding due to report soon, confirms @DefraGovUK #ukfloods

Full transcript of proceedings just published here:

http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/WrittenEvidence.svc/EvidenceHtml/8363

 

[TFF Twitter]

Is some of the land that was flooded since December, dry enough yet to be planted yet, with what ever crop the farmer has decided to plant. I am assuming that a large area of the levels are all having to be reseeded,due to grass being under water for so long.

@johanntasker is on the levels and took these pictures

On asked about the state of the ground, Johann says " Compaction a big issue, wild clover coming back all PR gone, Lots of buttercup and couch grass, not a lot of anything else"

many thanks to @Johann Tasker for copies of the pictures

 

[Pilatus]

Thank you for the pic Johann. I guess most of the land that was flooded will all be in the same situation.Interested to know which type of seeding(direct drill,min till etc) and cropping that farmers will be going to try, to get some crop for this coming winters fodder,as well as reseeding pasture,ALL VERY EXPENSIVE,and I guess no insurance covers the costs.

 

[Pilatus]

Please can someone give us an update on how some of the worst flooded land on the levels is/has dried up.Much been reseeded/planted with fodder crops etc? Must still be a lot of cattle/ sheep at grass keep ways a way from home.

 

[Bob c]

was think the same this morning
got some fodder if any needed

 

[neilo]

was think the same this morning
got some fodder if any needed

Have you let them know? I have some round bale hay still sat in the shed, having been asked to sit on it and they'll organise to pick it up later. As far as I know, they still want it, but haven't heard recently.

 

[Bob c]

who....nfu down there never got back to me
who did you contact ?