Weather chaos looms
Britain will grind to a halt without better protection against winter weather, a new report from the Local Government Association (LGA) claimed this week.
The LGA’s Weathering the Storm report says action must be taken now to equip the country for unpredictable, extreme weather.
It identified local authorities, salt suppliers and train companies as groups which had to act.
The report also urges businesses to do more to prepare for severe weather, by creating contingency plans for employees. The report’s publication coincides with flood chaos in Scotland, and publication of a separate study by the Wales Audit Office which recommends that coastal homes in Wales be relocated to avoid flooding (see box).
Last year London was brought to a standstill when heavy snowfall brought chaos to the capital (NCE 5 February).
“The UK is likely to experience severe weather with less predictability and more severity in future,” says the LGA report.
“The UK is likely to experience severe weather with less predictability and more severity in future.”
LGA report
The report urges councils to review procurement of de-icing salt and their working arrangements with other authorities including the Highways Agency. Mutual aid arrangements should be put in place.
LGA transport and regeneration board chairman David Sparks said the UK should be able to “keep going” in bad weather.
“It is high time Network Rail and the train companies tackled problems like freezing points and ice on overhead wires that often occur on our railways during winter,” he said. “When there is heavy snowfall people are advised to stay off the roads so it is more important than ever that buses and trains keep running.”
Since the February snowfall, some councils have updated their emergency plans.
Flooding and Transport disruption
Heavy rain crippled parts of north and east Scotland and Wales this week, flooding homes, closing roads and forcing train cancellations.
Sections of the A90, A96 and A97 were closed, forcing drivers to abandon their cars. Some vehicles were swept away or trapped in deep water. At least 10 people were rescued from cars and homes across Wales and flood warnings remain in place.
Meanwhile the Wales Audit Office has recommended that the Assembly Government develops a strategy to relocate assets and people away from parts of the coast where coastal erosion and tidal flood protection would be unacceptably expensive.
High risk towns included those along Kimmel Bay, Towyn to Llandudno in North Wales; Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Tywyn and Borth in the west; and the Gwent Levels in the south.
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Readers' comments (2)
Edward Wilson | 5-Nov-2009 11:14 am
How does the Wales Audit Office's recommendation for the development of "a strategy to relocate assets and people away from parts of the coast......" impact on the proposals for a Severn Barrage?
Edward J Wilson (Member)
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Don Pratt | 6-Nov-2009 11:17 am
Whilst supplies of salt are important the most important requirement are people who are prepared to work in the onerous conditions. LGA's can stockpile salt. People are not quite so easy. Man management is something councils need to learn. Leeds must be an example of how not to do it. Sheffield are learnig how not to do it. Strikes now, unemptied bins, poor fire cover. What will happen when the snows comes? Do council management care? They still get paid.
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