After the county’s wettest early winter for 100 years and the mass evacuation of a Northampton mobile housing estate, the regional committee responsible for flood management says things need to change
The vast majority of people are still not connecting the dots on the climate crisis. They see the floods but still book a holiday flight. They see rising food prices but still drive a petrol car. They see a catastrophic decline in wildlife but approve the government's granting more oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
Eddy Poll's comment doesn't just apply to flooding: "we can’t carry on doing things we have been doing... We need fundamental change”
There are 93 councillors covering the WNC and Phil Larratt seems to be connected with too many failing areas. His continuous failure to deliver any meaningful improvements is quite spectacular across Environment and Highways.
He is continually dragged out to speak and explain why every project is either late, failed, failing or over budget, yet he still has the faith of Jonathan Nunn.
Address the make up of WNC cabinet and you might get a different result
Shocking that this issue has such a low priority that it not likely to achieve its current targets.
Certainly since the major floods in Northampton some years ago it has been quite clear that we have been ignoring this at our peril and it's astonishing that Cllr Larratt failed to attend the meeting and send apologies. If he is overworked he should step down and maybe let a Labour councillor take his place?
It would be good for these meetings to be more public.
Yes - we will be making sure we attend these meetings from now on and hope to look a bit further into what money has been going into flood defences locally.
Excellent article which exposes clearly how nationally, regionally and locally we have failed to respond to the effects of climate change and have failed to invest to manage these changes. This is yet another example of how damaged our public and community resources have become after the past 14 years. As Eddy Poll says: we need fundamental change.
I’m sure that Tory councillors such as Larratt have little interest in the residents of Billing Aquadrome. If it were nearby, relatively affluent, Abington Vale at risk, Larratt would have been there like a shot waiting for a photographer to snap him holding a sandbag. Roll on May.
Damn, I spent a couple of years putting together two pieces for the Journal of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society showing that these rivers all arise in Northants , then we get Jago of Anglia News and yourselves stating the opposite. Why do we bother when journalists "know" better.
At least our council is going to save taxpayers £350,000 per year by moving staff out of the Guildhall to 1 Angel Square. A building that had to be sold immediately upon completion as they had bankrupted themselves building it, and is now leased back. What will now happen to the rather beautiful Guildhall extension, which I believe is owned, not leased(perhaps it will be offered to Church’s). I fear this £350,000, like the loan to the Cobblers, will never be seen again. What a bunch, roll on May.
In your reference to May, are you referring to local elections? As I understand it, these are happening in 2025 because of the action to reform after bankruptcy. Rewards for bad behaviour?! There is an election for the Police and Crime Commissioner which has in itself generated much controversy
Sorry not sure where the May reference is in this article. Yes, only commissioner and possibly a general election this year. (Plus Wellingborough and Rushden byelection).
Thanks for your reply, I did know the next election for West Northamptonshire Council is 2025, but my birthday is in May and I’m getting a PlayStation 5! 😬😬😬
Many thanks for your timely reporting on a very important - and clearly neglected - local issue,
The vast majority of people are still not connecting the dots on the climate crisis. They see the floods but still book a holiday flight. They see rising food prices but still drive a petrol car. They see a catastrophic decline in wildlife but approve the government's granting more oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
Eddy Poll's comment doesn't just apply to flooding: "we can’t carry on doing things we have been doing... We need fundamental change”
Great report.
There are 93 councillors covering the WNC and Phil Larratt seems to be connected with too many failing areas. His continuous failure to deliver any meaningful improvements is quite spectacular across Environment and Highways.
He is continually dragged out to speak and explain why every project is either late, failed, failing or over budget, yet he still has the faith of Jonathan Nunn.
Address the make up of WNC cabinet and you might get a different result
yes we agree and have heard similar comments from other people.
Shocking that this issue has such a low priority that it not likely to achieve its current targets.
Certainly since the major floods in Northampton some years ago it has been quite clear that we have been ignoring this at our peril and it's astonishing that Cllr Larratt failed to attend the meeting and send apologies. If he is overworked he should step down and maybe let a Labour councillor take his place?
It would be good for these meetings to be more public.
Yes - we will be making sure we attend these meetings from now on and hope to look a bit further into what money has been going into flood defences locally.
Also look at planning proposals for flood plains.
Excellent article which exposes clearly how nationally, regionally and locally we have failed to respond to the effects of climate change and have failed to invest to manage these changes. This is yet another example of how damaged our public and community resources have become after the past 14 years. As Eddy Poll says: we need fundamental change.
Thanks - it is a topic that will be on our radar from now on.
I’m sure that Tory councillors such as Larratt have little interest in the residents of Billing Aquadrome. If it were nearby, relatively affluent, Abington Vale at risk, Larratt would have been there like a shot waiting for a photographer to snap him holding a sandbag. Roll on May.
Damn, I spent a couple of years putting together two pieces for the Journal of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society showing that these rivers all arise in Northants , then we get Jago of Anglia News and yourselves stating the opposite. Why do we bother when journalists "know" better.
Happy to be corrected. Could you share your article? Try not to give the impression of knowing better.
At least our council is going to save taxpayers £350,000 per year by moving staff out of the Guildhall to 1 Angel Square. A building that had to be sold immediately upon completion as they had bankrupted themselves building it, and is now leased back. What will now happen to the rather beautiful Guildhall extension, which I believe is owned, not leased(perhaps it will be offered to Church’s). I fear this £350,000, like the loan to the Cobblers, will never be seen again. What a bunch, roll on May.
In your reference to May, are you referring to local elections? As I understand it, these are happening in 2025 because of the action to reform after bankruptcy. Rewards for bad behaviour?! There is an election for the Police and Crime Commissioner which has in itself generated much controversy
Sorry not sure where the May reference is in this article. Yes, only commissioner and possibly a general election this year. (Plus Wellingborough and Rushden byelection).
Thanks for your reply, I did know the next election for West Northamptonshire Council is 2025, but my birthday is in May and I’m getting a PlayStation 5! 😬😬😬
Vote Tory - get floods and other environmental disasters in the future.
Well Done …..N.i. with another ‘wake up call’ to Unitary Council and central Government!