Abstract
The impact of floods is devastating. The Easter 1998 floods in the UK caused five deaths, £400 million damage and resulted in 1500 people being evacuated from their homes. Autumn 2000 saw some of the worst floods in living memory with floods occurring in over 700 locations, over 10 000 homes and businesses flooded and a further 300 000 properties at risk. English and Welsh local authority powers to undertake flood and coastal defence works are permissive. Subject to meeting certain criteria laid down by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the National Assembly of Wales, local authority expenditure can attract grant aid. This paper reviews the current approach to flood defence in England and Wales. It presents an overview of the service and outlines some of the issues facing those responsible for service delivery. Particular reference is made to DEFRA's high level targets for flood and coastal defence and the elaboration of the supervisory role of the Environment Agency which places obligations on local authorities to make annual returns about the service they provide.
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