Environment Agency

(the information below has been provided by the Environment Agency)

The Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood defence along 5200 kilometres of main river and along tidal and sea defences, in the area of the Thames Regional Flood Defence Committee. Flood defence money is spent on the construction of new flood defence schemes, the maintenance of the river system and existing flood defences together with the operation of a flood warning system. The financial details are:-

The majority of funding for flood defence comes directly from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). However, where there are schemes which do not attract central funding the Agency may seek funding from County and Metropolitan Councils, Unitary Authorities and London Boroughs in the form of a Local Levy. The Local Levy is shared on the basis of Band D Equivalents between all contributing bodies within the Committee Area.

Changes in the Gross Budgeted expenditure between the years reflects the impact of the Government Spending Review and national prioritisation of capital projects.

The total Local Levy raised has remained the same in 2011/12 as 2010/11 at £10,000,000.

Contact

You can access up-to-date flood warnings in your area by calling floodline on 0845 988 1188 or via the Environment Agency website

In the event of a river flooding emergency, call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.