The Rising Waters of Wales

Environment Agency warns of floods threat to infrastructure


Western Mail
Thousands of schools, hospitals, power stations and other vital infrastructure are under threat from flooding unless the Government takes steps to ensure they are properly protected, the Environment Agency warned yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of a report into the summer floods, the agency’s chief executive Barbara Young said “too many” pieces of infrastructure and facilities were at risk.

The floods in June and July across swathes of the country showed how vulnerable many roads, railways, power stations, water supplies and public services such as police stations and schools were, the report said.

As an inquest into the death of one of the victims of the flooding reopened yesterday, the Environment Agency called on the Government to include measures in the forthcoming Climate Change Bill to ensure public and private service providers take responsibility for “climate change-proofing” critical infrastructure and facilities.

The Environment Agency warns that there are 13 hospitals, 401 schools and 13 boarding schools, 227 care homes and 680 health centres and surgeries at “significant risk” of flooding in the future.