River Lugg, Herefordshire

[ollie989898]

Have they cleaned out the drains in the Somerset levels?

Yes. There was a stir into action and it was noticeable how much work was being done in the following years, blokes on diggers and I don't just mean cutting reeds. One client of mine has several drainage channels on his farm and they properly dug these out and put the spoil in the field about 10 feet wide and a foot thick at least so way more than the usual vegetation cutting job.

 

[Top Tip.]

Yes. There was a stir into action and it was noticeable how much work was being done in the following years, blokes on diggers and I don't just mean cutting reeds. One client of mine has several drainage channels on his farm and they properly dug these out and put the spoil in the field about 10 feet wide and a foot thick at least so way more than the usual vegetation cutting job.

Has it made much of a difference?

 

[steveR]

The non return flaps have been replaced, the problem is that the old steel pipes are seriously corroded and the flaps no longer seal properly. There is a Penstock in the centre of the wall which is about 25' down and this is also failing as in the summer time it is kept shut, but now it leaks as well.
It took the EA two years to even go and look at it as they needed someone who was qualified to work in confined spaces. They also needed the correct H & S equipment which they no longer have and when they work in these restricted spaces they have to hire the safety equipment at great cost. When questioned as to why they didn't get contractors to do this work who had the correct equipment the answer was there was no money in the budget!!

Breweries and Pissups come to mind....

Farcial really, a major Capital item is left to fall to rack and ruin, then we have the likes of Dave and his Cohort, spending time and money on chasing a farmer clearing a waterway...

 

[JCfarmer]

View attachment 935991
Wonder if the property owners ought to 'pay a visit' to the EA like Dave suggested about visiting farmers. Also love the use of 'compromised', bu****ed up more like.

Our mate Dave( 'we are responding on site with partners') is taking his bloody mrs along to hide behind by the sounds of it!
One of my local watering holes I frequent we have a chap called 'Dave the Ditch' because when walking back home from the pub every so often he ends up in it! I would bet he's been in the ditch more times than EA Dave!

 

[ollie989898]

Has it made much of a difference?

It's still ongoing, I heard the area was taken in hand by another organisation and they have a 20 year maintenance plan in place now. There is also talk of a much large tidal barrier at the site where the area drains into the Bristol channel but this will be millions worth.

Ultimately the way forward is to put a gentle increase on home and business tax (council tax maybe?) that fall within the area and use that money as a maintenance, drainage and flood relief fund.

Several customers of mine farmed in the region and all told me that basically zero work had been done by the EA since they took over the role from the drainage boards who did it before. The entire area is low lying and pretty flat, and was artificially drained years ago. The area looked sick as a dog for months afterwards, I'd imagine the smell and look of the place was borked for a couple of years at least. I doubt any water votes survived- hundreds of acres were flooded for weeks on end.

 

[Steevo]

Ultimately the way forward is to put a gentle increase on home and business tax (council tax maybe?) that fall within the area and use that money as a maintenance, drainage and flood relief fund.

It’s good enough for the Police and Crime Commissioner to keep jacking it up after all!!

 

[ollie989898]

It’s good enough for the Police and Crime Commissioner to keep jacking it up after all!!

I note that goon has written to the region and asked: 'how about a tax increase' and I was half tempted to write back to the bloke and tell him to fudge off. There is no police presence around here besides mobile speed cameras.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

The non return flaps have been replaced, the problem is that the old steel pipes are seriously corroded and the flaps no longer seal properly. There is a Penstock in the centre of the wall which is about 25' down and this is also failing as in the summer time it is kept shut, but now it leaks as well.
It took the EA two years to even go and look at it as they needed someone who was qualified to work in confined spaces. They also needed the correct H & S equipment which they no longer have and when they work in these restricted spaces they have to hire the safety equipment at great cost. When questioned as to why they didn't get contractors to do this work who had the correct equipment the answer was there was no money in the budget!!

I sometimes made up a confined space team, held a ticket for many years. We had quite a few structures that needed it regularly.

It appears that the EA capability in key areas is in terminal decline.

 

[TheTallGuy]

I sometimes made up a confined space team, held a ticket for many years. We had quite a few structures that needed it regularly.

It appears that the EA capability in key areas is in terminal decline.

I get the impression that the people running EA are trying to get to the point where the agency just sit in an office telling people what they can, can't and must do rather than actually doing anything or being responsible for stuff.

 

[teslacoils]

I get the impression that the people running EA are trying to get to the point where the agency just sit in an office telling people what they can, can't and must do rather than actually doing anything or being responsible for stuff.

Can't.
Must.

Can is not in the vocabulary.

 

[TheTallGuy]

Can't.
Must.

Can is not in the vocabulary.

I disagree... "you can do nothing....", or "you can apply for licence xyz... but we won't give it to you!"

 

[quattro]

Can't.
Must.

Can is not in the vocabulary.

Do as I say, not as I do

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

I get the impression that the people running EA are trying to get to the point where the agency just sit in an office telling people what they can, can't and must do rather than actually doing anything or being responsible for stuff.

In this area they have already reached that point, and in fact they no longer sit in the office but have to stay at home and do nothing.
What really gets me is that it is impossible to talk to anyone as there are no contact numbers, you have to email and hope to get a reply. I have the email of the Regional boss and if I get really fed up with a problem then I contact him and usually after a week someone contacts me.

 

[steveR]

In this area they have already reached that point, and in fact they no longer sit in the office but have to stay at home and do nothing.
What really gets me is that it is impossible to talk to anyone as there are no contact numbers, you have to email and hope to get a reply. I have the email of the Regional boss and if I get really fed up with a problem then I contact him and usually after a week someone contacts me.

Is the silver lining then, that we should crack on with sensible ditching and watercourse maintenance while we can...

 

[onthehoof]

Looks like we've found John Price of the East

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10160528283273572

Stop The Floods | Thursdays up date | Facebook

Thursdays up date

www.facebook.com

 

[Wombat]

First one dismissed

River Lugg farmer faces no action from Forestry Commission - Farmers Weekly

The Forestry Commission said it will take no action against a Herefordshire farmer at the centre of a dispute over river maintenance works along the

www.fwi.co.uk

 

[ollie989898]

Man employs 400 folk? Wow.

 

[Brisel]

First one dismissed

River Lugg farmer faces no action from Forestry Commission - Farmers Weekly

The Forestry Commission said it will take no action against a Herefordshire farmer at the centre of a dispute over river maintenance works along the

www.fwi.co.uk

Not one of the more serious charges against him but that’s good to hear.

 

[Campbell]

Made Private Eye again.......

 

[steveR]

View attachment 940073
Made Private Eye again.......

Beautifully put!