” … In November 2014, a damning report from the National Audit Office (NAO)found the risk of flooding was indeed RISING as a result of government funding cuts. Furthermore, half the nation’s flood defences had been left with “minimal” maintenance, according to the spending watchdog.
The NAO also contradicted Cameron’s claim that his government was spending more than ever before on flood defences. Funding had fallen by 10 per cent in real terms, said the NAO, when £270m of one-off emergency funding after the 2013-14 floods was excluded.
Flood defences are big ticket items and hard to fund when the nation’s finances are tight. But not finding the money is a clear false economy, as well as causing misery to many people. The NAO report said every £1 spent on flood defences prevented almost £10 in damage. It noted that Cameron’s £270m bail-out was poor substitute for sustained spending: “Ad-hoc emergency spending is less good value than sustained maintenance.”
The government’s £2.3bn of planned capital spending on flood defences over the next six years compares to £15bn on roadsover the same period – and almost £16bn on high-speed rail. …”
East Devon Watch 