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Search forMPs back Mail plan to ensure floods misery is never as severe
11:30 - 07-May-2008
Members of the influential Environment Select Committee said the Environment Agency should take on overall responsibility for surface water flooding.
And they called on local authorities like Hull City Council and the East Riding Council to be given new statutory powers to deal with surface drainage.
Both recommendations echo issues raised in our 10-point Never Again action plan which was handed to Prime Minister Gordon Brown last month.
As part of the campaign, we investigated the causes and consequences of the floods last June and came up with the key points.
The committee's report into the floods also backs the idea that all new buildings on flood plains should be properly flood-resistant.
And MPs said all households in high-risk areas should be automatically registered for flood warnings.
The Mail presented a dossier of stories and photographs from the floods to the committee last November when it heard evidence from city council chief executive Kim Ryley and chairman of the Hull Independent Review Body (IRB) Professor Tom Coulthard.
Committee chairman Ian Jack said: “Our report has shown how confused and chaotic the infrastructure was when it came to preventing and dealing with surface water flooding.
“The Government must bring clarity to this situation so that the public, wherever they live, can have peace of mind that every effort is being made to avoid a repeat of the fiasco of last summer.
“The Government will not be easily forgiven if their response to last summer's events are not seen as comprehensive and well-funded.”
Prof Coulthard said determining the proper level of flood protection for Hull remained the most important outstanding issue facing the area.
“I think this is the most important decision to be made for the future.”
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Two people make their way through raising flood waters in Westborough Way, west Hull, in June last year
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They are big things to put out at sea and would affect a lot of people’s livelihood
Steve Cowan, Bridlington & Flamborough Fisherman’s Association
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