NFU welcomes new water taskforce but urges immediate action
Photograph: Annette Pyrah
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins says a new taskforce designed to strengthen the response to floods and drought is a step forward, but urged the government to take immediate action to support farm businesses and rural communities.
The NFU has welcomed the launch of a new Flood and Drought Taskforce, saying it reflects the need for a more joined-up approach to water management, while urging the government to take practical action now to improve resilience.
The new group, announced by Defra, will bring together water minister Emma Hardy and representatives from more than 50 organisations, including the EA (Environment Agency), Met Office, mayoral authorities, fire and rescue services, community groups and the farming, water and insurance sectors.
“It [government] could remove barriers to farm reservoirs, publish an up-to-date assessment of the condition and future maintenance of flood assets, and work with farmers to establish fair arrangements for managing floodwater.”
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins on the immediate action the government could take.
‘Lived experiences’
Defra says the taskforce will help to ensure “lived experiences” shape future policy and priorities, while highlighting a £10.5 billion flood investment programme through to 2036.
The NFU is among the new group’s members.
Ahead of its first meeting in October, NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said: “We welcome the recognition that flood and drought resilience must be addressed together. Farmers understand this connection first-hand, managing water throughout increasingly unpredictable and extreme seasons.
“We are ready to work with government, the EA, water companies and local communities to develop practical, long-term solutions.
“But there are measures government can take now. It could remove barriers to farm reservoirs, publish an up-to-date assessment of the condition and future maintenance of flood assets, and work with farmers to establish fair arrangements for managing floodwater.
“The first meeting is an opportunity to agree shared priorities and begin translating them into action that delivers tangible benefits for farm businesses and rural communities.”
Measures to improve resilience
The taskforce announcement coincided with Flood Action Week, during which the NFU highlighted a range of policy measures it says would help farmers improve flood and drought resilience.
With media interest piqued by the potential impacts of El Niño this winter, Paul said the special focus offered a ‘timely reminder to prepare’.
He added: “It is also an opportunity to recognise the vital role farms play in protecting homes by storing floodwater on their land. The EA should introduce a clear and accessible agreement process, with farmers fairly paid for providing this work. The agency must also make clear which assets it will not maintain.
“At the same time, to ensure excess water is not wasted, Defra should provide more detail on the Water Management Grant, and changes to the National Planning Policy Framework must also lead to more positive local planning decisions on farm water storage.”
