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Engineers to tackle North East flooding issues

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has called for changes to funding and building regulations to help avoid further flooding problems similar to those experienced in Morpeth in 2008. While the North East’s main cause of flooding is river and coastal water, the ICE report, prepared by civil engineers who live and work in the region, also points to the issue of sewer flooding.

Jean Venables, ICE President, said: “Flooding must be given greater consideration when local authorities are dealing with development requests, and planning and building regulations need to be brought in to ensure that future development does not increase the risk of flooding.

“Earlier this year, the Government already gave its support for more house building in flood hazard areas on economic grounds, but this really must be tempered by careful planning and engineering.”

Melinda Lutton, one of the report’s authors, said: “There is a real need for dedicated funding to provide more flood alleviation schemes. Tens of millions are already being spent on flooding, but there is a division between responsibilities and funding for such schemes. A similar problem needs to be addressed regarding the dissemination of information on floods and flood risk areas.

“Essentially, while a lot of work is already being done, there needs to be a more co-ordinated approach to ensure best practice is delivered uniformly. The other thing we need to see is greater consideration and legislation to ensure new developments required to meet housing needs do not add to the problems which already exist in the region.”

A copy of the report is available to download from: www.ice-northeast.org.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .