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An analysis has revealed that thousands of flood defence structures across England, intended to shield homes and businesses, were not meeting the required standards as winter commenced. Out of roughly 98,000 inspected flood defences, nearly 9% were deemed below the necessary condition by the Environment Agency as of 20 October. This includes 6,498 defences classified as “high consequence,” meaning their failure could have significant impacts. Despite government claims that recent investments have bolstered the nation’s flood protection network, considerable variation persists in the state of these defences depending on the region.
Some of the largest regional shortcomings were found in North Tyneside, Brentwood in Essex, and Hart in Hampshire, where over 40% of flood defences failed to meet standards. Along the Thames corridor, spanning Oxfordshire, parts of Surrey, and Greater London, approximately one in five defences were rated as substandard, influenced by a combination of record rainfall and tidal storm surges. Recent weather events have underscored these vulnerabilities; for example, Storm Bram brought heavy rain and strong winds, prompting numerous flood warnings across the UK. Flooding was reported in several areas, including York, Greater Manchester’s M66, Devon, and Cornwall, where train services were disrupted.
Flood defences in England encompass a broad spectrum of structures such as walls, embankments, storm drains, and even natural elevated ground. The Environment Agency inspects nearly all defences designed to prevent rivers from flooding vulnerable urban and rural areas. Condition scores from routine inspections consider factors like cracks, leaks, overgrown vegetation, and blockages. Although a structure may still function despite being rated poorly, any deficiency remains a cause for concern. Dave Throup, a former area manager for the Environment Agency in the Midlands, remarked, “It’s difficult to say why that is happening. Is it a lack of money? Or is it the bashing that these flood defences have taken over the last three or four years as a result of many very large flood incidents? It’s very difficult to pull that apart.”
Pressure on flood defence maintenance is compounded by complex ownership and responsibility arrangements. While the Environment Agency oversees about a third of inspected defences, the rest are managed by private individuals, companies, charities, or local councils. Data suggested that those defences maintained by third parties have a roughly 45% greater likelihood of underperformance compared to those managed directly by the Environment Agency. This situation was highlighted in Leicestershire earlier this year when residents of the Grange Park estate in Loughborough had to create their own flood barriers after a privately owned pond, designed to store excess water, overflowed during heavy rain. Katie Anderson, an engineer who helped coordinate the residents’ response, described the confusion and frustration: “If everyone hadn’t pulled together, I don’t want to think what could’ve happened.” Calls to the water company, council, and developer went unanswered as time ran out, forcing residents into action themselves.
The challenge of maintaining and improving flood defences is intensified by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. The Environment Agency noted that six of the ten wettest winter half-years on record for England and Wales have occurred since 2000. Over recent winters, storms like Bert and Connal caused significant flooding, especially along the Thames corridor, where despite efforts to repair critical points, many defences remain in unsatisfactory condition. Professor Hannah Cloke OBE, a notable flood expert at the University of Reading, emphasized the need to view the data contextually: “We’ve got some percentages here – but that doesn’t tell us exactly what would happen if each of those flood defences did fail.” She cautioned against considering all defences equally, noting that some well-maintained ones may still be insufficient if poorly designed. Professor Cloke advocates for greater investment in catchment management techniques, such as tree planting and landscape modifications, to slow water runoff before it reaches rivers, although these efforts often face obstacles due to private land ownership.
An Environment Agency spokesperson concluded
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