I fully agree with the comments and sentiments of Howard Glenn and David Viles (NCE 18 October). As head of engineering Services at a small but very active district council I directed my staff and persuaded my councillors to take proactive watercourse maintenance very seriously. We averted considerable property flooding with this approach. Since leaving when the lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) were formed, and it is no coincidence that I did, I have joined a consultancy with whom I feel equally fulfilled. But from my new vantage point, while acknowledging that LLFAs are doing much to better understand where flood risk occurs, the proactive maintenance that district councils used to do appears to be very much decreasing.
Tony Brummell (F), tony@brummell.org
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