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Benn defends response to flooding Benn defends response to flooding
(about 1 hour later)
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has defended the government's response to the floods, although he accepted there were "lessons to be learned".Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has defended the government's response to the floods, although he accepted there were "lessons to be learned".
His comments came as large areas of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire remained under water, with roads closed and towns cut off.His comments came as large areas of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire remained under water, with roads closed and towns cut off.
And seven severe flood warnings have been issued, covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London.And seven severe flood warnings have been issued, covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London.
More than 1,000 people have spent a second night in emergency shelters.More than 1,000 people have spent a second night in emergency shelters.
Mr Benn told the BBC's Sunday AM programme: "This was very, very intense rainfall, with five inches in 24 hours in some areas, even some of the best defences are going to be overwhelmed."Mr Benn told the BBC's Sunday AM programme: "This was very, very intense rainfall, with five inches in 24 hours in some areas, even some of the best defences are going to be overwhelmed."
The main developments include:The main developments include:
  • Parts of Worcestershire are under six feet of water. In Evesham, more than 30 guests and staff are still trapped on the upper floors of the Northwick Hotel
  • Parts of Worcestershire are under six feet of water. In Evesham, more than 30 guests and staff are still trapped on the upper floors of the Northwick Hotel
  • The Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury remains cut off - and Severn Trent Water is warning householders in the north of the county water supplies could run out by early on Sunday evening because a treatment plant has been flooded
  • The Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury remains cut off - and Severn Trent Water is warning householders in the north of the county water supplies could run out by early on Sunday evening because a treatment plant has been flooded
  • Sutton and East Surrey Water has warned 80,000 households and businesses in Sutton to boil tap water before drinking it after the firm discovered rain had leaked into a tank of water which had gone out to customers
  • Sutton and East Surrey Water has warned 80,000 households and businesses in Sutton to boil tap water before drinking it after the firm discovered rain had leaked into a tank of water which had gone out to customers
  • RNLI lifeboats are rescuing people in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and other areas. Some emergency service staff have been working for 48 hours without sleep.
    •
  • RNLI lifeboats are rescuing people in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and other areas. Some emergency service staff have been working for 48 hours without sleep.
  • A pregnant woman in her 20s, from the Manchester area, went into labour while stranded in a car on the flooded M5 near Tewkesbury. Paramedics got the woman to Cheltenham General Hospital before she gave birth
  • Wide areas of Berskshire are flooded, including 400 homes in Pangbourne where the main road into town is closed.
    • 'Overwhelmed''Overwhelmed'
    Meanwhile Mr Benn praised the way the emergency services had dealt with "unprecedented" levels of rainfall and said he had "total confidence" in the response of the Environment Agency.Meanwhile Mr Benn praised the way the emergency services had dealt with "unprecedented" levels of rainfall and said he had "total confidence" in the response of the Environment Agency.
    There had been a cut in the Environment Agency's forward planning budget, but capital expenditure was being increased from £600m to £800m by 2010/11, he said.There had been a cut in the Environment Agency's forward planning budget, but capital expenditure was being increased from £600m to £800m by 2010/11, he said.
    TRAVEL CHAOS M5 - closed northbound between J14, Thornbury and J13, Stroud, because of a vehicle fireA420, A44, A417 in the Midlands - closed or blockedCentral Trains - services to and from Birmingham New St, Hereford, Boston and Shirley reduced or suspendedFirst Great Western - services to and from Oxford, Swindon, Gloucester and Hereford disruptedVirgin trains - services suspended from Birmingham New StHeathrow and other airports - no reports of disruption Latest from BBC TravelTRAVEL CHAOS M5 - closed northbound between J14, Thornbury and J13, Stroud, because of a vehicle fireA420, A44, A417 in the Midlands - closed or blockedCentral Trains - services to and from Birmingham New St, Hereford, Boston and Shirley reduced or suspendedFirst Great Western - services to and from Oxford, Swindon, Gloucester and Hereford disruptedVirgin trains - services suspended from Birmingham New StHeathrow and other airports - no reports of disruption Latest from BBC Travel
    Among the lessons to be learned, said Mr Benn, was whether flood defences should be kept closer to vulnerable areas and whether they should be put up earlier - although some may cause unnecessary road closures.Among the lessons to be learned, said Mr Benn, was whether flood defences should be kept closer to vulnerable areas and whether they should be put up earlier - although some may cause unnecessary road closures.
    He was responding to criticism flood defences destined for Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire had not reached the town in time because the vehicle carrying them had got stuck in the chaos on the M5.He was responding to criticism flood defences destined for Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire had not reached the town in time because the vehicle carrying them had got stuck in the chaos on the M5.
    The environment secretary said even if the defences had been in place the volume of water had been so great that they would have been overwhelmed by the floods.The environment secretary said even if the defences had been in place the volume of water had been so great that they would have been overwhelmed by the floods.
    And he dismissed suggestions that armed forces overstretch meant there were not enough troops available to help deal with the crisis.
    Public inquiryPublic inquiry
    Earlier Baroness Young, the agency's chief executive, said following Met Office predictions early last week there had been extensive warnings about the floods on radio and television as well as on the Environment Agency website and telephone "floodline" on 0845 988 1188.Earlier Baroness Young, the agency's chief executive, said following Met Office predictions early last week there had been extensive warnings about the floods on radio and television as well as on the Environment Agency website and telephone "floodline" on 0845 988 1188.
    YOUR PICTURES Your images of flooding from around the country Fears tap water 'could run dry'YOUR PICTURES Your images of flooding from around the country Fears tap water 'could run dry'
    Baroness Young urged people to continue checking these sources and to plan how they would cope if forced to evacuate their home. She added that the difficulty had been in dealing with the unprecedented scale of the flooding.Baroness Young urged people to continue checking these sources and to plan how they would cope if forced to evacuate their home. She added that the difficulty had been in dealing with the unprecedented scale of the flooding.
    But Conservative leader David Cameron called for a public inquiry saying "concerted action" was needed from the government, particularly to help the uninsured. Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, said more needed to be spent on flood defences.
    And Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said the government had been "too slow to wake up to the potentially devastating effects of extreme rainfall overwhelming drains and sewers". "It was known for some days that this was likely to happen. I think there'll be questions asked about the degree of preparedness there was to meet what is obviously a very, very dramatic outcome," said Sir Menzies.
    Conservative leader David Cameron, who has called for a public inquiry into the crisis, visited Witney, the main town in his Oxfordshire constituency, to survey the flooding
    He said people would like to know why flood defence resources were often miles away from where they were needed.
    "People want answers," he added.
    Warm clothingWarm clothing
    Oxfordshire is preparing for more localised flooding by closing roads and issuing residents with sandbags to protect their homes.Oxfordshire is preparing for more localised flooding by closing roads and issuing residents with sandbags to protect their homes.
    John Parry, of Oxfordshire County Council, said people should "consider moving upstairs, or consider staying with family or friends".John Parry, of Oxfordshire County Council, said people should "consider moving upstairs, or consider staying with family or friends".
    Police have advised anyone travelling through Hereford and Worcestershire to pack supplies and warm clothing as more rain is predicted.Police have advised anyone travelling through Hereford and Worcestershire to pack supplies and warm clothing as more rain is predicted.
    A surfboard was one way to get around Abbey Meads, SwindonA surfboard was one way to get around Abbey Meads, Swindon
    In one of the RAF's biggest peacetime rescue operations around 100 people in Worcestershire were airlifted to safety over the weekend, while more than 1,000 spent a second night in emergency rest centres.In one of the RAF's biggest peacetime rescue operations around 100 people in Worcestershire were airlifted to safety over the weekend, while more than 1,000 spent a second night in emergency rest centres.
    Despite the heightened risk of flooding to central and southern England, the Met Office does not have any severe weather warnings in place.Despite the heightened risk of flooding to central and southern England, the Met Office does not have any severe weather warnings in place.
    BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said parts of the country will experience scattered showers on Sunday, but there will be plenty of sunshine, and patchy rain will appear in Wales during the morning.BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said parts of the country will experience scattered showers on Sunday, but there will be plenty of sunshine, and patchy rain will appear in Wales during the morning.
    There will be also outbreaks of rain across the north east of Scotland, which could lead to heavier bursts.There will be also outbreaks of rain across the north east of Scotland, which could lead to heavier bursts.
    HAVE YOUR SAY We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems Ted Smith, Worcester Send us your experiences Army called inHAVE YOUR SAY We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems Ted Smith, Worcester Send us your experiences Army called in
    The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the final bill for damage and disruption was expected to run into "hundreds of millions".The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the final bill for damage and disruption was expected to run into "hundreds of millions".
    Kelly Ostler, of the ABI, told the BBC reports of householders not being able to get insurance unless they protected their homes against flooding were inaccurate.Kelly Ostler, of the ABI, told the BBC reports of householders not being able to get insurance unless they protected their homes against flooding were inaccurate.
    "We have - the industry that is - has a statement of principles with the government that says any home that has insurance at the moment, household and buildings insurance, for flooding and they have maintained flood defences by the government in the area, then they will always have flood cover.""We have - the industry that is - has a statement of principles with the government that says any home that has insurance at the moment, household and buildings insurance, for flooding and they have maintained flood defences by the government in the area, then they will always have flood cover."
    Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, which received more than 2,000 calls and rescued more than 750 people, said by Sunday things had begun to calm down.Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, which received more than 2,000 calls and rescued more than 750 people, said by Sunday things had begun to calm down.
    Mike Redfern, Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Hereford and Worcester, said: "We've got flood watches, flood alerts, on all the main river systems and we're watching that very closely," adding that the situation was now "fairly well under control".Mike Redfern, Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Hereford and Worcester, said: "We've got flood watches, flood alerts, on all the main river systems and we're watching that very closely," adding that the situation was now "fairly well under control".