DESPITE a £29million sea defence project in Weston, residents are being warned that coastal flooding cannot be prevented altogether.

The Environment Agency has announced plans to increase flood protection to 200,000 homes and businesses in England and Wales by 2015.

The organisation has launched a 2010-2015 strategy to help protect people from climate change.

Included in the plans is the sea defence work currently taking place in Weston.

The defences, which are expected to protect 4,500 homes from the risk of coastal flooding, are just one of a handful of projects being organised around the country.

But at an annual London conference, the Environment Agency warned that more and more properties are facing an increasing risk of coastal erosion and river flooding due to climate change and population growth.

The agency’s director of flooding and coastal erosion risk management, Robert Runcie, said: “The agency plans to protect an additional 200,000 properties from coastal and flooding erosion by 2015.

“Since 2007 we have completed 102 defences and we are progressing well with the one in Weston.

“However, no one can prevent flooding entirely and so people should check the Environment Agency’s website to see if their postcode is at risk and sign up to receive free flood warnings.”

The number of properties in England and Wales at significant risk from flooding could increase from 570,000 last year to more than 900,000 by 2035.

Since 2007 the agency has completed 102 flood defence schemes protecting more than 63,000 additional homes in England and Wales.

In 2009 it started the Weston project and another £50 million scheme in Nottingham. Work is also underway in Kent.

The agency is already planning to manage a predicted one metre rise in sea levels – the Thames Barrier and associated schemes which protect 1.25million people in the capital will need an upgrade or will be replaced by 2070 to cope with the damaging effects of climate change.

By 2115 there will be a predicted 10 per cent increase in wave height and wind speeds will amplify the threat from coastal surges.

To sign up to flood warnings visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk

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Water rises over the boardwalk in Cardiff Bay in December 2009

The number of homes and businesses in Wales receiving free flood warnings will increase from 47,000 to nearly 90,000, it has been announced.

Environment Agency Wales said the move to extend its flood warning service will allow more people “vital time” to get ready for an emergency.

The extension was one of the key recommendations of an independent review into the floods of summer 2007.

Letters will be sent in March to all homes and businesses to be signed up.

The agency is also continuing to expand the number of areas in Wales eligible for its free flooding service.

Alan Proctor, the flood risk manager, said the devastating floods in Cumbria last November “remind us of the dangers of flooding and how being prepared is crucial”.

More than 200 people had to be rescued from the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth as the severe weather conditions hit.

A police officer was also killed in the flooding.

“One in nine homes in Wales are at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea,” Mr Proctor said.

“We urge everyone to check whether their property is at risk and take steps to prepare, such as looking at ways to make properties more resistant to floods.

“By signing up almost 40,000 extra homes and businesses, we will almost double the number on our system, giving more people vital time to get prepared for flooding, protecting lives and property.”

Homeowners and businesses can choose to opt out of the warning service.

But Environment Agency Wales is urging everyone to check its website for more information about preparing for the risk of flooding.

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AN ADDITIONAL supply of grit will be bought by Easton-in-Gordano Parish Council in preparation for future extreme weather.

During the recent spate of snow and ice experienced across North Somerset, council members received many complaints about the lack of grit in roadside bins.

Despite the bins being filled by North Somerset Council it is believed that some residents in Pill and Easton-in-Gordano had taken grit from them to use on their private driveways.

Parish council chairman Gerry Hunt said: “Some people were spotted wheeling barrow-full loads of grit away from the bins.

“This meant there was not enough to spread on the public roads and pavements.

“As a result, the parish council has decided to buy its own supply of grit, which will be securely locked away until it is needed.

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Snow has begun falling - and much more is expected

Government offices, courts and schools have closed early in Washington DC to allow workers to get home ahead of a major snowstorm.

Forecasters have predicted up to 2ft (60cm) of snow, which would make it the snowiest winter in the capital for a century.

Shops in the US capital and surrounding areas are said to be running low on staple supplies as residents stock up.

Blizzard warnings are in effect in much of Delaware and New Jersey.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency two days ago to allow extra preparation time for emergency and road crews.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, 94% of the state’s snow removal budget has already been spent, after a major blizzard hit the area in December.

Officials said they would have to use emergency funds to pay for snow removal after this latest storm.

In neighbouring Maryland, nine counties declared snow emergencies, barring cars without snow tyres from driving until the alert is lifted.

Newspapers and TV shows handed out tips on how to deal with the storm, which they have dubbed “snowpocalypse”.

Residents were urged to stay off roads, and to prepare for possible power cuts.

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More snow could hit Bristol next week as temperatures plummet once again.

Independent risk meteorologists British Weather Services has predicted that from early next week the UK will face another week to 10 days of ice and snow.

But according to MeteoGroup, Bristol should not be too badly affected.

Forecaster Rob Hutchinson said: “At the moment there is a strong indication that there will be a return to cold conditions, but it may not be particularly snowy – it is hard to tell. The risk of snow is low but I can’t rule it out.

“It could be quite a protracted spell, starting with it turning progressively colder through the weekend.”

The wind is expected to switch direction and come from the east bringing in cold air from the continent and Bristol will get even colder as the week goes on.

He said: “The weekend in Bristol will be dry and cloudy, with temperatures between 1C and 7C on Saturday and on Sunday it will be slightly colder. Next week temperatures will fall below freezing at night and will struggle to get much above 0C in the daytime.

“The current indication is that in Bristol it will be cold but dry and fine, with the chance of snow showers, rather than heavy disruptive snow.”

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Packing-away-winter-woolies-Forget-snow-way/article-1805499-detail/article.html

A Norfolk police car has crashed on black ice en route to attend another accident in freezing conditions.

The single vehicle accident happened as Norfolk Police urged motorists to take extra care driving on black ice.

The police car was on its way to another crash near the World’s End pub at Mulbarton when it skidded up a bank on the B1113.

In total, there have been five accidents across the county that police are attributing, in part, to ice.

A car flipped onto its roof in the accident at Mulbarton.

Two women received minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash on the A149 Caister bypass.

Earlier, there was a two-vehicle accident on A47 between the A140 and A11 junctions.

No-one was injured but there was another collision as a driver stopped to help those in the initial crash.

That car collided with yet another vehicle.

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