Memorandum submitted by Jean and Gordon
Basnett (FL 24)
This crisis could have been avoided if common
sense had been employed. Spending money on futile flood defences
at Cox' Meadow in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, instead of defending
the plants that provide us with water and power.
A contributory factor to this flooding is the
continual building on flood plains. Mythe water treatment plant
at Tewkesbury was flooded even during construction a few years
ago. Our drains and rivers are no longer cleaned and dredged as
they should be.
There is no need to keep building in South and
middle England when there are huge open spaces in Scotland and
Wales, which could be made habitable with the correct infrastructure.
Without any restraints on the population of England and continuous
building this problem will be repeated. Lessons should be learnt
Furthermore Severn Trent regardless of the weather
were largely responsible for losing our water supply, and should
compensate us. A paltry sum of £3.5 million, when they make
profits of £300 million is derisory.
All these services which are in private and
foreign hands, should be nationalised and belong to the people.
Without shareholders to consider more money could be ploughed
back into providing proper defences and better services.
Mr and Mrs G Basnett
August 2007
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