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Tuesday 4 February 2014

Prince Charles to visit flooded Somerset Levels

Prince Charles will be joined by representatives from The Prince's Countryside Fund Prince Charles will visit the Somerset Levels later to meet residents, farmers and members of the emergency services affected by flooding.

He will be joined by representatives from The Prince's Countryside Fund.

Thousands of hectares of land remain under water on the Somerset Levels, where whole villages have been cut off.

Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith told the BBC dredging of river channels was part of the answer for Somerset but a comprehensive solution was needed.

He said one option in future was to try to hold back water further up the catchment to prevent so much reaching the Levels, which lie below sea level.

Risk 'continues'

But Lord Smith reiterated there was not a limitless amount of money available for tackling floods.

"Most people would say lives come first, and homes and businesses have to come after that," he said.

Some residents in Somerset have rejected this, saying the authorities have not done enough to help.

Another unsettled week of wet and windy weather right across the UK is forecast.

There will be heavy, thundery showers across southern and western areas on Tuesday morning with snow over high ground in Wales and Scottish mountains, said BBC weather forecaster Stav Danaos.

Showers will ease in the afternoon with rain expected to hit the Somerset Levels at about 18:00 GMT.

Widespread gales and heavy rain are predicted across the country on Wednesday.

The Met Office, meanwhile, has issued a yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - of wind for south-western parts of the UK from Tuesday afternoon into the evening. It says winds could reach 80mph in the most exposed spots.


River levels remain high in areas including Old Windsor, Berkshire
The Environment Agency expects the strong winds and high waves to cause flooding in coastal areas.

It no longer has any "danger to life" severe flood warnings in place, but there are 50 lesser flood warnings and more than 170 flood alerts across England and Wales.

The Agency said the flood risk would continue over the next week.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 12 flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible.

Cheaper helpline

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was questioned by MPs on Monday about the government's handling of the crisis.

He said the government was spending £100,000 a week extra to pump water in Somerset and that 7,500 properties had been flooded since the start of December.

Mr Paterson said 21 properties were still flooded and 200 people still cut off in the Somerset villages of Muchelney, Thorney, Oath, Stathe and North Moor.

Meanwhile, a cheaper helpline for flooding victims in England has been opened for calls.

The Environment Agency's new Floodline number - 0345 9881188 - was opened after complaints that callers were being charged up to 41p a minute to call the existing 0845 helpline, with the money going to a private company.

Several coastal towns in south-west England were hit by fresh flooding on Monday, which disrupted business and severed road and rail links.

Cornwall Council said there had been "a severe amount of coastal damage".
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.blogspot.com

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