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'£1bn needed' to prevent flooding Water runs out in flood-hit areas
(about 1 hour later)
About £1bn a year is needed for flood defences, Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young has said. Drinking water supplies are starting to run out in some areas of England worst affected by the flooding.
Waters have continued to rise and eight severe flood warnings are in place across the Midlands and south England. Severn Trent Water say 350,000 people could be cut off, with Gloucester expected to lose its supply imminently, followed by Tewkesbury and Cheltenham.
Fresh water supplies have almost run out in parts of Gloucestershire and RAF helicopters are rescuing people from Tewkesbury, which is cut off. The firm urged people not to panic and to do all they could to conserve water.
Earlier, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn defended the flood response and said conditions were "unprecedented". The deluge is also threatening power supplies to 500,000 people in Gloucestershire, as firefighters battle to prevent a substation flooding.
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." Earlier, Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young told the BBC that about £1bn a year was needed to improve flood defences.
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. She said more investment was essential because climate change would lead to increased rainfall, but added: "It will take some time to get flood defences into place and it won't completely remove the risk of flooding."
But Baroness Young said more investment was essential because climate change would increase the likelihood of flooding. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1185125184/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1185125184/html/1.stm', '1185125373', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=750,height=518,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Upton-on-Severn was badly hit by flooding href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1185125184/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1185125184/html/1.stm', '1185125373', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=750,height=518,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
"But it will take some time to get flood defences into place and it won't completely remove the risk of flooding," she told the BBC. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn defended the government's flood response, saying conditions were "unprecedented".
Emergency services are battling to prevent the flooding of a major electricity substation on the outskirts of Gloucester which supplies power to 500,000 people. Mr Benn told the BBC's Sunday AM programme 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.
A power cut is also expected to hit 450 homes in the Priors Park area of Tewkesbury shortly and water has reportedly begun to infiltrate 12th century Tewkesbury Abbey. "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," he added.
Water supplies in north Gloucestershire were running out on Sunday evening after a treatment plant flooded.
Emergency services in Gloucester are also using sandbags to protect the Walham electricity substation, but 450 homes in Tewkesbury are already without power, along with 150 in Gloucester and 150 in Evesham.
Electricity supplier Central Networks has advised customers to ring 0800 328 1111 to report loss of supply.Electricity supplier Central Networks has advised customers to ring 0800 328 1111 to report loss of supply.
Clive Guest returned to devastation in his flood-hit homeIn pictures
Water has also reportedly begun to infiltrate 12th century Tewkesbury Abbey, after the town itself was cut off.
Elsewhere, the Army has taken humanitarian aid to Upton-on-Severn in Worcestershire and swathes of Warwickshire are submerged.Elsewhere, the Army has taken humanitarian aid to Upton-on-Severn in Worcestershire and swathes of Warwickshire are submerged.
Severe warnings are also in place for Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London, and the Environment Agency said "serious flooding" was likely in Oxford on Sunday night.Severe warnings are also in place for Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London, and the Environment Agency said "serious flooding" was likely in Oxford on Sunday night.
The main developments include:The main developments include:
  • Water levels in the River Severn at Gloucester are running at a height of 34ft (10.4m). Flood defences are 35ft (10.7m). Flood water levels are now said to be at the same level as the 1947 floods.
  • Water levels in the River Severn at Gloucester are running at a height of 34ft (10.4m). Flood defences are 35ft (10.7m). Flood water levels are now said to be at the same level as the 1947 floods.
TRAVEL CHAOS M5 - reopened northbound between J14, Thornbury and J13, Stroud, after a vehicle fireRoads including A44, A417 and A38 - parts closed or blockedCentral Trains - services to and from Birmingham New St and Hereford reduced or suspendedFirst Great Western - services to and from Paddington, Oxford, Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester disruptedVirgin trains - services suspended from Birmingham New StChiltern Railways - services from Banbury suspendedNorthern Rail - Rotherham Central closed, Sheffield services disruptedUK airports - no reports of disruption Latest from BBC TravelTRAVEL CHAOS M5 - reopened northbound between J14, Thornbury and J13, Stroud, after a vehicle fireRoads including A44, A417 and A38 - parts closed or blockedCentral Trains - services to and from Birmingham New St and Hereford reduced or suspendedFirst Great Western - services to and from Paddington, Oxford, Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester disruptedVirgin trains - services suspended from Birmingham New StChiltern Railways - services from Banbury suspendedNorthern Rail - Rotherham Central closed, Sheffield services disruptedUK airports - no reports of disruption Latest from BBC Travel
  • Severn Trent Water is warning that up 350,000 people in the north of Gloucestershire will lose their water supply by Sunday evening because a treatment plant has been flooded. Gloucester is expected lose its supply imminently, followed by Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
  • Parts of Worcestershire are under 6ft (1.82m) of water.
  • The Red Cross has been called in to help with the evacuation of about 20 patients from Tewkesbury Hospital. John Ford, from Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, said they were being relocated from the Severn and Avon wards to other local hospitals.
  • The Red Cross has been called in to help with the evacuation of about 20 patients from Tewkesbury Hospital. John Ford, from Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, said they were being relocated from the Severn and Avon wards to other local hospitals.
  • Parts of Worcestershire are under 6ft (1.82m) of water.
  • 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.
  • Wide areas of Berkshire are flooded, including 400 homes in Pangbourne where the main road into town is closed.
  • Wide areas of Berkshire are flooded, including 400 homes in Pangbourne where the main road into town is closed.
    • Mr Benn praised the emergency services' and said he had "total confidence" in the Environment Agency's response.
    Clive Guest fled his home after the River Avon's banks burstIn pictures
    Among the lessons to be learned, said Mr Benn, was whether flood defences should be kept closer to vulnerable areas and put up earlier.
    He was responding to criticism flood defences destined for Upton upon Severn had not reached the town in time because the vehicle carrying them had got stuck on the M5.
    And he dismissed suggestions that armed forces overstretch meant there were not enough troops available to help deal with the crisis.
    Earlier Baroness Young said following Met Office predictions early last week there had been warnings about the floods on radio and television as well as on the Environment Agency website and telephone information line.
    And she urged people to check these sources and plan how they would cope if forced to evacuate their home.
    YOUR PICTURES Your images of flooding from around the country Tap water 'could run dry'YOUR PICTURES Your images of flooding from around the country Tap water 'could run dry'
    Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, agreed more needed to be spent on flood defences.Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, agreed more needed to be spent on flood defences.
    "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."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, said people wanted to know why flood defence resources were often miles away from where they were needed.Conservative leader David Cameron, who has called for a public inquiry into the crisis, said people wanted to know why flood defence resources were often miles away from where they were needed.
    Warm clothingWarm clothing
    Oxfordshire is preparing for more localised flooding by closing roads and issuing residents with sandbags and advising them to move upstairs or find friends or relatives to stay with.Oxfordshire is preparing for more localised flooding by closing roads and issuing residents with sandbags and advising them to move upstairs or find friends or relatives to stay with.
    Police have also advised anyone travelling through Hereford and Worcestershire to pack supplies and warm clothing as more rain is predicted.Police have also advised anyone travelling through Hereford and Worcestershire to pack supplies and warm clothing as more rain is predicted.
    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 in with suppliesHAVE 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 with supplies
    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.
    The BBC Weather Centre said outbreaks of rain are expected, some heavy, across the north east of Scotland on Sunday evening, but in Wales showers should be lighter and more scattered, giving some relief to the worst affected areas in the east around the River Wye.The BBC Weather Centre said outbreaks of rain are expected, some heavy, across the north east of Scotland on Sunday evening, but in Wales showers should be lighter and more scattered, giving some relief to the worst affected areas in the east around the River Wye.
    BBC forecaster Susan Powell said more rain was expected on Monday, but most would be away from the severely flooded parts of the Midlands.BBC forecaster Susan Powell said more rain was expected on Monday, but most would be away from the severely flooded parts of the Midlands.
    Instead, she said concern could shift to areas in the South, close to the River Thames, where an inch of rain could fall on Monday. Instead, she said concern could shift to areas in southern England, close to the River Thames, where an inch of rain could fall on Monday.
    Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188