The major difference is a political will to do something. We just flog everything off to private enterprise and cut funding to what little remains

What? So we should build flood defences up in the Pennines to match those they have in the Netherlands because that'd show 'em that our politicians mean business.

Do you need some foil for your crack?

Well. TBH the flood / storm news is doing my head in!

Somerset levels (some of it lower than sea level) under water, the Thames Valley (I think the clue’s in the name) under water.

Dave giving assurances that “money’s no object”, Miliband questioning his statement , blah, blah.

People squealing about the environment agency, endless sandbags, a rickety railway line right next to the sea, (I’m sure I’ve seen that image all week) & dredging (I mustn’t forget the answer to all the ills)

Endless videos of human misery, hour after hour.

Well, hears the breaking news, the climates on the change. It’s happened before, & sure as hell it’s happening again.

I just wish it was all going on “Up North”, I might just see a bit more alternative news.

If I do you're clearly the person to come and see.

An example of how poorly the EA is funded is their current number of Fisheries Officers (Bailiffs). I was reading on an angling forum (don't know how true it is) that only 6 officers are employed to care for the entire NW region from the Mersey to the Scottish border.

I do know that they have currently teamed up with the Angling Trust to train volunteer bailiffs such is the lack of manpower.

Anyone with a fishing licence is encouraged to act as quasi-bailiffs, that's always been the case

"Money no object" says Camoron.

Perhaps he should have a word with Christchurch Council who are rlcharging residents £7.50 per sandbagrl

Had to laugh when I saw that this morning, particularly as Cameron had said publicly yesterday that councils should spend whatever it takes as central government will reimburse them.

Its also noted on there that the local MP who won't reply to his constituents, is the same MP who refered to the dining room staff at Westminster as "servants" last year.

As non sequiturs go, that's spectacular.

A slight point: a vast amount of this winter's flooding and damage has been caused by the sea, not just record levels of rain.

And, as we've already discussed, there have been ongoing cuts to the agencies that are tasked with dealing with such problems (and others) and a lack of any long-term planning for years.

Yes, electoral considerations may intervene, but the example of the Netherlands is entirely legitimate as one of showing that, irrespective of the political differences of different governments (there have been prime ministers from three different Dutch parties since 1980 as an example), if the political will is there, long-term planning and long-term action can occur.

Successive governments have apparently had scientists warning of what was going to happen, but have chosen to fiddle while the floods become more frequent.

We need some sort of consensus, across all parties, on what needs to be done, because there's no indication that these are simply "freak events", as Owen Paterson likes to characterise them. One would think that that would be common sense.

They should pump and pipe the water into the council offices. The kit would probably be cheaper than many hundreds of sandbags.

'Cameron' has just Tweeted that no one should be charged for sandbags - central governmemt will pick up the bill.

To which I responded:

Dally ‏@ZymurgyZo ·5 mins
@David_Cameron So, taxpayers who live on hills are having to subsidise those who live next to rivers? Contrary to Tory mean-spirited policy?

Clubs encourage members to act as bailiffs in terms of making sure that the regulations of the club are followed and that other anglers have the appropriate club membership. All anglers are encouraged to report pollution or suspected poaching to the EA and in the latter case also to the Police. Only EA bailiffs and the Police can demand production of an EA rod licence and to be frank the Police can't be d as they have more important things to deal with. I haven't been asked to produce a rod licence in 35 yrs of angling.

Personally I would make it compulsory to produce a rod licence before you can purchase a day ticket or club membership.

There aren't many votes in promising new infrastructure.

There are votes in promising tax cuts.

It's not only politicians who are short termist, voters can be too.....