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| Overhaul of flood defences urged | Overhaul of flood defences urged |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Flood defences need to be overhauled to deal with the impact of climate change, experts and politicians have warned. | Flood defences need to be overhauled to deal with the impact of climate change, experts and politicians have warned. |
| The Environment Agency wants a 25-year plan aimed at coping with the kind of flooding seen in England in late June. | The Environment Agency wants a 25-year plan aimed at coping with the kind of flooding seen in England in late June. |
| Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne said the Midlands and Yorkshire were "largely unprepared" for an "almost monsoon" level of rainfall. | Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne said the Midlands and Yorkshire were "largely unprepared" for an "almost monsoon" level of rainfall. |
| Ministers have met local councils to discuss how to spend the £14m relief package announced by PM Gordon Brown. | Ministers have met local councils to discuss how to spend the £14m relief package announced by PM Gordon Brown. |
| In the House of Commons, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears hailed the "brave men and women" of the emergency services who had assisted in the relief effort. | |
| She said: "What communities have told me is that they want to get back to normal as quickly as possible." | |
| Meanwhile, forecasters are predicting more showers over the next few days for parts of Yorkshire - although more flooding is not expected. | Meanwhile, forecasters are predicting more showers over the next few days for parts of Yorkshire - although more flooding is not expected. |
| About 500 Environment Agency staff are still monitoring water levels in the worst-affected areas, near Doncaster and Hull. | About 500 Environment Agency staff are still monitoring water levels in the worst-affected areas, near Doncaster and Hull. |
| The floods hit more than 28,000 homes and 6,800 businesses, mainly in the Midlands and northern England. | The floods hit more than 28,000 homes and 6,800 businesses, mainly in the Midlands and northern England. |
| More protection | More protection |
| Environment Agency chief Barbara Young said such flooding events - where torrential rain causes a deluge of surface water - were likely to become more frequent. | Environment Agency chief Barbara Young said such flooding events - where torrential rain causes a deluge of surface water - were likely to become more frequent. |
| The drainage system simply couldn't cope Chris HuhneLiberal Democrats Risk 'not over yet' | The drainage system simply couldn't cope Chris HuhneLiberal Democrats Risk 'not over yet' |
| She said planning needed to take climate change into account and that piecemeal planning must be avoided. | She said planning needed to take climate change into account and that piecemeal planning must be avoided. |
| "As an agency, we've got to improve the standard of protection we've got for many properties. | "As an agency, we've got to improve the standard of protection we've got for many properties. |
| "But local authorities, water companies and the developers need to have a co-ordinated process for 25-year planning for surface water flooding." | "But local authorities, water companies and the developers need to have a co-ordinated process for 25-year planning for surface water flooding." |
| Overloaded drainage | Overloaded drainage |
| Mr Huhne, who has visited the worst-affected areas of Hull, said the weather was causing a "new type of flooding". | Mr Huhne, who has visited the worst-affected areas of Hull, said the weather was causing a "new type of flooding". |
| "In the past we've been prepared for floods from rivers overflowing and floods from coastal and tidal surges," he said. | "In the past we've been prepared for floods from rivers overflowing and floods from coastal and tidal surges," he said. |
| "This was an enormous amount of rain - four inches of rain in one day - almost monsoon quality. The drainage system simply couldn't cope." | "This was an enormous amount of rain - four inches of rain in one day - almost monsoon quality. The drainage system simply couldn't cope." |
| He called on the privatised water companies to play a bigger part in assessing the risk of flooding. | He called on the privatised water companies to play a bigger part in assessing the risk of flooding. |
| Last week, Mr Brown announced the relief package, saying the £14m would help get people "back on their feet as quickly as possible". | Last week, Mr Brown announced the relief package, saying the £14m would help get people "back on their feet as quickly as possible". |
| The insurance industry estimates that claims will total £1.5bn. | The insurance industry estimates that claims will total £1.5bn. |
| Many homeowners are facing a wait of months before their houses are habitable. | Many homeowners are facing a wait of months before their houses are habitable. |