CUTS WILL HIT FLOOD RESPONSE

Firefighters across the UK attended nearly twice as many flooding incidents in 2012 than in 2011, according to new figures obtained by the Fire Brigades Union under the Freedom of Information Act.

Fire and rescue services from around the country were called to 22,518 flooding situations last year compared with 13,042 the year before: a 75% increase.

Northern Ireland firefighters went to three times more flood incidents in 2012 than they did in 2011, whilst in Wales the response more than doubled. In England firefighters attended more than 19,000 flood incidents in 2012, compared to 11,000 in 2011. Turnouts were three times higher in the South West of England, Yorkshire, the East Midlands and the North East of England, while they doubled in the South East and the North West of England.

As the unprecedented funding cuts continue to bite, the practical consequence is that some parts of the country the fire and rescue service will not be able to guarantee coming to the aid of flooding victims.

The increasing severity of weather patterns brought about by climate means that this problem is set to get worse.