The session saw the publication of the NFU’s flooding manifesto, suggesting that farmland and rural communities are too often sacrificed as the lowest priorities when water levels rise.
And it provided an opportunity to hear from one of the key players in the debate, with Environment Agency director of flood and coastal risk management, David Rooke on-hand.
There was frustration at recent events, but also an opportunity. Mr Rooke said the agency would work with the NFU and adopt a ‘yes, if’, rather than a ‘no way’, mind-set.
Chairman and NFU President Peter Kendall said: “This session is not just about putting our case to the EA, but also about working together collectively as government looks at its spending programme, to make the case for resources to do the work we know needs to be done.
“We have an opportunity to really rattle this hard. If we’re going to get the economic recovery we need a bigger flood budget and we need to look closely at how the Dutch, for example, manage environmental legislation.
200 soldiers to review UK flood defences
Mr Rooke told delegates that 200 soldiers would conduct a ‘total review’ of the condition of all UK flood defences over the next six weeks. “That will help inform decisions by government in terms of where we go in terms of maintenance," he said.
“Of course it’s down to finance, and we have to use the recent media coverage and the picture we’ve now got to make sure we are better placed in the future.”
Mr Rooke told farmers: “Yes we need to learn lessons, and we do need to be prepared for more winters like this. We need to utilise all methods of flood risk reduction, including dredging, desilting, repairing banks, slowing the flow, storing water and improvements further upstream.
“And we will continue to work closely with the NFU and its members.”
On the Somerset Levels: "Clearly there is still significant impact and our sympathy goes out to everyone who has been affected, but particularly those for whom the impact has been measured in weeks, not days
"In addition to our 40 pumps, we’ve brought in another other 30 and we are making a difference. Water levels have dropped by half a metre.
"At peak we estimate 90m cubic litres of water was on the moors. It’s a massive challenge but we are making progress. How fast that happens will depend on the weather over the coming weeks as we look to get water out of houses and businesses, and then off the land."
On environmental legislation: "No matter who does the work, environmental legislation need to be complied with. There are lots of examples around the country where this can, and is, being done in very effective way.
On dredging: "We do undertake dredging. We spend about £30m a year on channel maintenance, but it does have to pass certain tests – is it worthwhile, does it reduce flood risk without making it worse elsewhere and does it meet environmental legislation? Can we do it in an environmentally acceptable way?
On the Dutch: "We have a good working relationship with the Dutch, we share experiences and they have been helping down in Somerset. The Dutch policy is quite different because 60% of Dutch GDP is within the flood plain and they were scarred in 1953 when well over 2,000 lives were lost. A minimum standard of protection was enshrined in law.
"But even with that, in the mid-90s they had serious flooding and had to evacuate a quarter of a million people because of the fear of failure of embankments
“The Dutch comply with Habitats Directive because it’s European law. My under is that the Dutch spend £1b a year on flooding defence."