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Bryony Sadler - BBC Points West late show Mon 27 Jan 2014

310 views · Published 28 January 2014 · 1:19 · Indexed 12 November 2026

Channel: Public Enquiry · 2014 · News & Politics

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Six weeks of talks before a decision on dredging Somerset rivers
By Western Daily Press  |  Posted: January 28, 2014 By Tina Rowe
Six weeks of talks before a decision on  dredging Somerset rivers
Signs on the Somerset Levels calling for Owen Paterson's resignation yesterday, as the Environment Secretary was accused of cowardice by angry residents living in 'third world' conditions
Words such as coward, Chinese torture, third-world country and publicity stunt were ringing in Owen Paterson's ears as he left the West yesterday.
The Environment Secretary came under fire from furious residents during a visit to the flood-hit Somerset Levels.
He promised a new plan to be drawn up in the next six weeks to deal with flooding, and a long-term maintenance programme, but crucially offered no immediate extra cash following a series of meetings and a tour of North Moor Pumping station near Bridgwater.
Somerset MPs Ian Liddell-Grainger and David Heath accompanied the minister, reporting on the distress, upheaval and sheer financial cost of the floods to their constituents. Locals said they were living in "third world" conditions -- with "overflowing" septic tanks and water in their homes.
Mr Paterson promised that a new plan would be drawn up within six weeks, "almost certainly" involving a project to dredge the Parrett and Tone rivers. For years locals have called on the Environment Agency to re-introduce dredging which used to be carried out regularly, but has not happened for the 18 years that it has been responsible for rivers.
A photograph from the drought of 1976 when the Parrett was exceptionally low shows how wide the river was then and how clean its banks.
Although the agency accepted in principle last year that dredging would be a help to the Levels, Kate Marks, Environment Agency flood risk manager, insisted yesterday that it would not have prevented the current emergency.
Mr Paterson acknowledged national guidelines on dredging were not appropriate for the Somerset Levels, around 100 square miles of which are below sea level. Thousands of acres have been under water for more than three weeks, with homes flooded, roads closed and the village of Muchelney accessible only by boat.
Mr Paterson's announcement was made during a press conference held for TV cameras, from which residents were refused entry.
Hairdresser Bryony Sadler, of Flooding on the Somerset Levels Action Group, branded Mr Paterson's 30-minute visit a "publicity stunt", saying: "It was a waste of taxpayers' money. He hasn't told the local community what's going on.
"We are here, we have lived like this -- like a third world country -- for three weeks. We have just pushed and pushed and pushed."
Farmers and other locals were asked not to approach the minister as he left the site.
"We needed a glimmer of hope and he has just driven off," Mrs Sadler added.
Read more: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/weeks-talks-decision-taken-dredging/story-20510178-detail/story.html#ixzz2rik7q1sX

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