Landowners may be paid to let fields flood to protect towns
F armers could be paid to let their land flood, the environment secretary said on Wednesday, as more rain threatened parts of Wales and the North West, writes Emma Gatten .
“Using natural flood plains, planting trees, holding water upstream can reduce the flow of water or reduce the impact on urban areas,” George Eustice said. “We envision paying farmers to store water to be a key part of our policy.”
February has seen per cent of average rainfall and nearly all of England’s rivers have reached record levels in recent weeks in the wake of Storms Ciara and Dennis.
Mr Eustice said that flood barriers had played a crucial role in the latest flooding along the River Severn , even as police carried out an evacuation of riverside areas in Ironbridge because emergency defenses were overwhelmed.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings