Flood facts
From Charles Hendry. MP Sir: Rod Liddle (Thought for the day, 18 January) clearly subscribes to the old dictum not to let the facts get in the way of a good story. I understand that he may well not be familiar with Uckfield and Buxted, but, if he was, he would know that relatively simple measures could be introduced in both places to stop future flooding. First, measures to retain the waters before they come into both places; second, measures to help the water flow through more quickly and into the flood plains between Uckfield and Lewes. In other words, unlike in other places where flooding cannot be prevented, there are man-made solutions which could readily prevent future floods in these communities.
Of course the Prime Minister cannot stop it raining, but he did (rightly) promise that measures could be taken to prevent future flooding in places like Uckfield and Buxted — as, indeed, did the environment minister Elliot Morley. Unfortunately in the two years since the terrible floods of 2000 nothing has been done.
Charles Hendry
London SW1
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