Cable attacks confusion over flood duties
August 20, 2007 12:00 AM
Lib Dem MP for Twickenham, Vince Cable, is calling for greater co-ordination to tackle flooding
Hundreds of local people who suffered flooding in the recent downpours - including sewage flooding - are being "badly let down" by "confusion and lack of co-ordination" amongst the bodies responsible, says Vincent Cable, Lib Dem MP for Twickenham. He meets the Environment Agency this week and is seeking an urgent meeting with Thames Water who he says have primary responsibility:
Vincent Cable MP says:
"It appears that the problems date back 20 years to the privatisation of water. Prior to that time, Thames Water were required to employ the local council (Richmond Borough) as agents to keep the drainage system clear. Subsequently they were free to drop the arrangement and did so. As a result, the standard of maintenance has fallen".
"I have, in the last few weeks, asked Thames Water to investigate a whole series of [local] bad flooding episodes... In each case the residents were frustrated by the unwillingness of any agency to take responsibility. One man was told that if his house was flooded with sewage three times a year Thames Water would install a value in his trains to stop overflow but once a year was not enough!
"I am trying, with the council (Richmond), to get Thames Water round a table to talk about their responsibilities. I am meeting also the Environment Agency which is responsible for river flooding but often isn't informed about worse flooding due to drain blockages."
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