So many big wigs visiting here (1 Viewer)

Jan 4, 2012
2,240
2,022
somerset
Funster No
19,320
MH
Fiat Ducato
Exp
A few years now
Outside my office window is Westonzoyland airfield, the closest landing spot to the Somerset levels.

I have seen Prince Charlie earlier this week, D Cameron today, police helicopters hovering non stop, police vans, black Range Rovers , men in black with bulging pockets :whatthe:, fuel bowsers brought down from (important ) places with Range Rovers, environmental boss visit , more police copters:Eeek:.

Us local folk have never seen so many important people from the city down these parts.

With what they have spent on aviation in the last week they could have dredged all the rivers last year.
 

Trikeman

Free Member
Aug 22, 2012
1,649
3,095
Wilds of Ceredigion.
Funster No
22,516
MH
AT 634 Apache.
Exp
Since 2011.
They (he) wouldn't have even bothered coming down here if they (he)thought they wouldn't lose votes...... Promises again - no wonder Davy boy never announced his visit - he would have had one hell of a reception for sure if he had done.

"I'll go to Somerset when the time's right" he said yesterday but who turned up today????????? Not even got the balls to stand in front of the 'real' people - another publicity stunt, £100,000,000 now available.

Too frigin late posh boy!:Angry: Now f**** off back to London.

Detract the locals to welcome the EA gaffer and 'sneak in the back door'.

Trikeman. :winky:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Peter JohnsCross MH

Funster
Deceased RIP
Jan 5, 2008
9,617
6,194
East Sussex
Funster No
1,134
MH
Autotrail
Exp
1995
Weston Zoyland brings back memories, I used to land there in a Piper Cherokee many, many years ago when I had a trade counter in Street:Eeek:

Used to fly down from Elstree in it.

Peter
 
Dec 29, 2007
293
220
Somerset
Funster No
1,087
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 1996
Absolutely bonkers. They should never have stopped dredging.

This Tory lot will certainly NOT get my vote. They are all right Jack to hell with the rest of us, that seems to be their attitude.
 

MattR

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 18, 2013
4,083
37,346
Beds
Funster No
27,578
MH
Panel van
Exp
Years
Just throwing some thoughts into the mix:

The dredging was stopped in the 1990s. It wasn't restarted by Blair or Brown during the boom years and may not have been considered a priority by Cameron over the last 3 years of austerity.

Even if dredging had been restarted, would it have prevented the flooding this winter? It may have reduced it a bit but not by much - the water capacity of flood plains is often much greater than river channels and dredging often only increases the river volume by a small amount so even a dredged river could not have coped with the amount of water on the flood plains and the cleared channels it would have just made the water travel faster and cause even more flooding downstream.

If you are interested in reading more, have a look at this: http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-floods-somerset-levels-david-cameron-farmers

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Tootles

Funster
Deceased RIP
Sep 14, 2013
9,511
34,799
Lancaster
Funster No
28,093
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Was a newbie, now a Middie.
Weston Zoyland brings back memories, I used to land there in a Piper Cherokee many, many years ago when I had a trade counter in Street:Eeek:

Used to fly down from Elstree in it.

Peter

Weren't you worried about being jumped by an ME 109???..::bigsmile:::bigsmile::winky:
 

sdc77

Free Member
Jan 28, 2013
3,244
4,550
Weardale, Co Durham
Funster No
24,456
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
since 2011
Just throwing some thoughts into the mix:

The dredging was stopped in the 1990s. It wasn't restarted by Blair or Brown during the boom years and may not have been considered a priority by Cameron over the last 3 years of austerity.

Even if dredging had been restarted, would it have prevented the flooding this winter? It may have reduced it a bit but not by much - the water capacity of flood plains is often much greater than river channels and dredging often only increases the river volume by a small amount so even a dredged river could not have coped with the amount of water on the flood plains and the cleared channels it would have just made the water travel faster and cause even more flooding downstream.

If you are interested in reading more, have a look at this: http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-floods-somerset-levels-david-cameron-farmers

Nice to see someone with a balanced point of view.
 

tinkering

Free Member
Feb 25, 2009
222
1,105
dorset
Funster No
5,741
MH
C class
Exp
Since 1972
Just throwing some thoughts into the mix:

The dredging was stopped in the 1990s. It wasn't restarted by Blair or Brown during the boom years and may not have been considered a priority by Cameron over the last 3 years of austerity.

Even if dredging had been restarted, would it have prevented the flooding this winter? It may have reduced it a bit but not by much - the water capacity of flood plains is often much greater than river channels and dredging often only increases the river volume by a small amount so even a dredged river could not have coped with the amount of water on the flood plains and the cleared channels it would have just made the water travel faster and cause even more flooding downstream.

If you are interested in reading more, have a look at this: http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-floods-somerset-levels-david-cameron-farmers

What a load off bollocks (in this case) when they built the M5 in the early seventys right through the middle of the Somerset Levels they created a bloody great DAM, the then LOCAL authority kept all the rivers and drainage channels clear by dredgeingl ,the Levels have always been prone to flooding
but because the drains were kept clear the water was able to drain away.

Since the completely useless EA took over none of this drainage work has taken place, most of the pumping stations were taken out of service in 1996, this is a man made disaster.
 

Landy lover

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 11, 2009
2,296
5,928
Zummerzet
Funster No
7,453
MH
27ft Eurolight
Exp
Camping Caravaning now 5'ering 49 years
Just throwing some thoughts into the mix:

The dredging was stopped in the 1990s. It wasn't restarted by Blair or Brown during the boom years and may not have been considered a priority by Cameron over the last 3 years of austerity.

Even if dredging had been restarted, would it have prevented the flooding this winter? It may have reduced it a bit but not by much - the water capacity of flood plains is often much greater than river channels and dredging often only increases the river volume by a small amount so even a dredged river could not have coped with the amount of water on the flood plains and the cleared channels it would have just made the water travel faster and cause even more flooding downstream.

If you are interested in reading more, have a look at this: http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-floods-somerset-levels-david-cameron-farmers


Ah undoubtedly a the guardian man has spent a lot of time listening to the people in the EA and not understanding the local problems. I am the first to agree that the dredging of the rivers will not stop the flooding of the Somerset levels. That is a simple fact. I am also the first to agree that the current weather pattern is unprecedented and would create more severe flooding that has happened in living memory. What everyone fails to realise and understand is the levels have been managed for hundreds of years by allowing the levels to flood in certain areas and the rivers and rhynes have been cleared dredged and managed to allow the floods to run away to sea in days rather than months. The bridges and riverbanks have been built and reinforced to cope with this. Its not something that has just been invented, its been going on for years. The problem is the management of the levels has been taken from the local people who understand it and put at national level and is run by people who simply have not a clue - are not prepared to listen and feel it is more important to spend some £34 million on a bird sanctuary at the mouth of the river Parrett than to spend 5million on the dredging. They have been progressively warned over the years that this will be the result - some 14 months ago they said the floods were a 'once in a hundred year' occurrence and should ignored. A few facts which should speak for themselves - over the last 20 years the silt has reduced the effective depth of the river by 12 feet. Because the silt has built up the reed growth at the edges of the rivers has encroached from both sides and reduce the effective width to 40% of its actual width. Farmers used to be in charge of the water levels on their own land by having level boards controlling the levels for their own needs , raising and lowering the level to suit their crops. This was stopped due to the insistence by the RSPB that they dictate the level of the water in their reserve which actually raised the summer time levels of water. This was apparently to attract the 'native' birds.

Living not too far from the levels and suffering some of the problems of the mismanagement of the rivers we see houses flood that have not flooded in history since the 1300's when they were built and are now uninhabitable roads flooding on a regular basis that never did etc I do have a strong opinion when control is given to some remote power who will not listen to local knowledge , push forward with their own thoughts and needs and virtually wash their hands of it when things go wrong.

Speak to anyone who has anything to do with the levels and they will tell you that a few days of flooding creates no problems. Once the levels go back down everything returns to normal - even if it flood again a few days later. If the floods last a week or even two in places nature will recover - it will just take shade longer. Anything over 21 days is a total disaster - the soil, the plants, the natural organisms the Mycorrhiza's the bugs and beetles the earthworms all die - the soil is effectively dead. It takes years to recover - for many this is the 3rd time it has happened in 15 months.

It simply should never have happened. EA were warned . The locals will have to pick up the tab again for others incompetence, arrogance and short-sightedness. I have no doubt that some will be unable to recover and will end up in the hands of the receiver.

I understand the area now under water is greater than the size of Guernsey and at the last count exceeds 289,000 acres
 
Dec 29, 2007
293
220
Somerset
Funster No
1,087
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 1996
Just throwing some thoughts into the mix:

The dredging was stopped in the 1990s. It wasn't restarted by Blair or Brown during the boom years and may not have been considered a priority by Cameron over the last 3 years of austerity.

Even if dredging had been restarted, would it have prevented the flooding this winter? It may have reduced it a bit but not by much - the water capacity of flood plains is often much greater than river channels and dredging often only increases the river volume by a small amount so even a dredged river could not have coped with the amount of water on the flood plains and the cleared channels it would have just made the water travel faster and cause even more flooding downstream.

If you are interested in reading more, have a look at this: http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-floods-somerset-levels-david-cameron-farmers

A lot to consider there. So clearly much more needs to be done sooner rather than later. Not mull it over for years to come.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Jun 30, 2010
7,921
27,188
Cornwall
Funster No
12,372
MH
1992 VW Auto sleeper Mono
Exp
Since 2005 this time
AWE come on fellas! we all know the Townies know best, and the tree huggers, and the trendy lefty armchair greenies all have OUR best interests at heart,
Come on fellas! roll over and let them tickle your tummy, while they explain that the Badgers are your friends, and that a 3 metre band around you paddocks, uncultivated , is good for the Wildlife.:ROFLMAO:
And that not dredging Falmouth Harbour is good for the "Trembling Weed" and that if the big ships that the harbour relies on to stay economic can't get in:Doh: WELL! :Doh:we can turn the Worlds 3rd best natural harbour into a Marina and the Docks into High rise Apartments for the Incomers.

The Townies always know what's best for the Yokels, don' um?:thumb:
 

Landy lover

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 11, 2009
2,296
5,928
Zummerzet
Funster No
7,453
MH
27ft Eurolight
Exp
Camping Caravaning now 5'ering 49 years
Just to put a lighter note on this

Just to put a lighter note on this

Saw this posted on facebook this morning
 

Attachments

  • Navy to somerset levels.jpg
    Navy to somerset levels.jpg
    73.8 KB · Views: 43

DBK

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 9, 2013
17,968
47,804
Plympton, Devon
Funster No
24,219
MH
PVC, Murvi Morocco
Exp
2013
This article is a good balance to the Grauniad one: Broken Link Removed
The roll of Lady Young features but it doesn't mention that prior to becoming CE of the Environment Agency she was CE of the RSPB. Of course the Treasury are also involved. A policy of not dredging was cheap so that was exactly what they wanted.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Oct 5, 2012
4,283
9,569
Ayrshire
Funster No
23,166
MH
Carado T132
Exp
5 years, feel free to ask me about the Carado!!
Outside my office window is Westonzoyland airfield, the closest landing spot to the Somerset levels.

I have seen Prince Charlie earlier this week, D Cameron today, police helicopters hovering non stop, police vans, black Range Rovers , men in black with bulging pockets :whatthe:, fuel bowsers brought down from (important ) places with Range Rovers, environmental boss visit , more police copters:Eeek:.

Us local folk have never seen so many important people from the city down these parts.

With what they have spent on aviation in the last week they could have dredged all the rivers last year.

Amazing how the demonised 4x4 comes in handy when those in power want to project power & importance & get to muddy places....
 

Landy lover

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 11, 2009
2,296
5,928
Zummerzet
Funster No
7,453
MH
27ft Eurolight
Exp
Camping Caravaning now 5'ering 49 years
This article is a good balance to the Grauniad one: Broken Link Removed
The roll of Lady Young features but it doesn't mention that prior to becoming CE of the Environment Agency she was CE of the RSPB. Of course the Treasury are also involved. A policy of not dredging was cheap so that was exactly what they wanted.

A well written factual article. Highlighting the major points of the failure when birds became more important than humans. While I am all in favour of preserving wild life we need to appreciate that birds will fly to any area that suits their lifestyle. When man artificially controls an area and maintains a suitable habitat and calls it a Sanctuary / reserve or whatever yes the birds will continue to come - take it away they are not going to starve - they move to another suitable location.

In the article it mentions Charles 1st so for those that don't do history 1625 – 1649 that's 389 years - that is wrong because some of the old houses date before that and anyone that knows history will remember the old fable of King Alfred and his burnt cakes which actually happened on the levels. Also if you read parts of the bible there is reference to the Somerset levels when Joseph of Arimathea which dates back to 100BC - so its fair to say the levels have been inhabited and managed successfully for long long time. Until the EA got involved :Eeek:

Now their policy failures are showing up in other areas where dredging and management should have taken place
 

Landy lover

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 11, 2009
2,296
5,928
Zummerzet
Funster No
7,453
MH
27ft Eurolight
Exp
Camping Caravaning now 5'ering 49 years
for some reason post duplicated its self

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Last edited:

tinkering

Free Member
Feb 25, 2009
222
1,105
dorset
Funster No
5,741
MH
C class
Exp
Since 1972
floods in the west country

This just about sums it up
 

Attachments

  • 1798860_725159654184347_201613627_n.jpg
    1798860_725159654184347_201613627_n.jpg
    27.7 KB · Views: 14

Wyaye wires

Free Member
Sep 13, 2009
3,333
9,263
Berwickshire
Funster No
8,441
MH
A class Neisman Bischoff
Exp
since July 2009
Nice to see someone with a balanced point of view.


Balanced, from a Guardian article? :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Plant more trees in the water catchment areas and he uplands to slow down the flow to lower levels. :thumb:
 

Wyaye wires

Free Member
Sep 13, 2009
3,333
9,263
Berwickshire
Funster No
8,441
MH
A class Neisman Bischoff
Exp
since July 2009
Vote UKIP!!! :thumb:


They might still stuff it up big style, but they'll do with a pint and fag in hand and a smile on their faces. :Doh:
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top