Thousands of England's flood defences in poor condition before Storm Babet hit
Photograph taken by reader Glen.

THE state of more than 4,000 of England's vital flood defences was rated as poor or very poor in inspections carried out by the Environment Agency in 2022, obtained data by Unearthed shows.

These defences range from flood walls and embankments to outfall pipes and culverts. They protect property and lives in some of England's most at-risk Towns and cities, including:- areas affected by Storm Babet.

Increased flooding is 1 of the main risks England faces from climate change. Flood damage across the UK currently causes £700m of damage a year, according to the Association of British Insurers. Earlier this year, researchers estimated that could rise by a fifth if global warming continues.

According to data obtained by Unearthed under freedom of information rules, of England's 64,000:- "high consequence" flood defences, 4,200 were rated as being in either poor or very poor condition by the environmental watchdog in 2022; 7% of the total. Of these, nearly 900 were judged to be in very poor condition.

Only 3% of all England's high consequence flood defences were deemed to be in:- "very good" condition while a 3rd were classed as:- "good." The majority; 57%; were rated to be in:- "fair" condition.

Commenting on the findings, Greenpeace UK's senior climate campaigner, Paul Morozzo, said:- "Our crumbling flood defences are a symbolic and literal demonstration of the Government's failure to tackle the climate crisis. Storm Babet was a sobering reminder that the climate crisis is on our doorstep and that the cost; both in terms of lives lost and damage caused; is huge. Without bold action to cut emissions as fast as possible, extreme storms and flooding will become more common and more intense. And without the necessary investment and upgrades, our flood defences will continue to fail. By rowing back on its climate commitments and failing to ensure we have infrastructure needed to mitigate its impacts, the Government has all but given up on the communities it is supposed to protect. This is a shameful dereliction of duty and will cost votes in the coming election unless Sunak has the guts to change direction."

While the majority of England's vital flood defences are maintained by the EA, over a quarter are privately owned and maintained by unnamed:- "3rd parties." The data shows that privately owned defences are nearly twice as likely to be in poor condition:- 1,500 of privately owned defences; 9% of the total; were in a poor or very poor condition last year, compared with just 5% of assets maintained by the EA.

Unearthed has previously reported there is little oversight over privately owned defences, with some Local Authorities not knowing who owns them and the EA lacking powers to compel owners to properly look after them.

The environmental watchdog told Unearthed that it routinely inspects flood defences and when there is danger of a flood, emergency repairs are carried out. It clarified that when an asset is below required condition, it does not necessarily mean that it has structurally failed, or that performance in a flood is compromised.

Read the full investigation here.

Charity shopping night at Dobbies' Southport store in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust
Photograph by Stewart Attwood

DOBBIES' Southport store is celebrating the festive season this November with a Christmas Shopping Night fundraiser in aid of National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.

Families in Southport are invited to join Dobbies for an evening of seasonal shopping on Thursday 30 November from 5-9pm, with tickets priced at £1 available in store and online now. To help raise awareness, vital funds and spread kindness, all proceeds from ticket sales will go to Teenage Cancer Trust, alongside additional fundraising efforts from activities on the night.

Customers can explore Dobbies brand new Christmas themes for 2023, be inspired with great value decorations that will adorn any home and take advantage of exclusive deals. Attendees can immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, enjoy seasonal songs and book in to experience Santa's Grotto where children can meet Mr Claus himself.

Cancer kills more teenagers and young adults in the UK than any other disease, and for those that are lucky enough to survive, getting the right physical and emotional support is vital for recovery. Every day, 7 young people aged:- 13 to 14 are told they have cancer, and it's projected that by 2030 this number will be closer to 10. Supporting Teenage Cancer Trust with donations helps fund specialist nurses and youth workers to be there for a young person that's battling cancer.

Dobbies' CSR and Community Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, has been working closely with Teenage Cancer Trust to raise awareness of the fantastic work they carry out. She said:- "Our late night shopping event in Southport is a great chance to gather the family, get into the festive spirit and support a charity that's making such a difference to teenagers and young adults across the UK. Last year our fundraising efforts saw over £100k donated to the charity, and we're hoping to top this benchmark with the help of our customers."

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationship Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, added:- "Dobbies' Christmas Shopping Night is a memorable occasion and 1 our team, supporters and volunteers look forward to every year. It's a great chance for communities to get together, share a magical experience and raise vital funds to help us deliver life changing work to teenagers and young adults battling cancer."

For more information about Dobbies Christmas Shopping Night in partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust, visit:- Dobbies.Com.