27 June 2008
It is 'unacceptable' that thousands of people remain in temporary accommodation following last summer's floods, Sir Michael Pitt said this week as he published his final report into the disaster.
He called for fundamental changes in the way the country adapts to the risk of flooding, which he said continues to increase.
'I urge the government to show leadership and urgently set out the process and timescale for improving resilience in the UK. The recommendations in my report are realistic and affordable and should be made a priority.'
The wide-ranging report was published on June 25, along with research on future flooding commissioned by the review.
As well as expressing concern over the lack of 'clarity and transparency' around flooding risk in some areas, which placed people's homes and lives in jeopardy, Pitt said secrecy about the consequences of dam breaches put lives at unnecessary risk.
His final recommendations included establishing a Cabinet committee dedicated to tackling the flood risk, ensuring above-inflation increases in flood resilience funding, and having financial arrangements ready for emergency responses.
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