24th June 2008

Dear Editor.
One year on from the floods we should recognise that many homes and
businesses are still feeling the effects of the floods, we should
remember the lives lost or broken, but above all we should ask - have
we done enough to stop it happening again. To that, we suggest, the
answer is no.

It may be that there is no direct link with our changing climate,
however last years flooding (one of 206 global flood disasters last
year compared with an average of 172 between 2000 and 2006) is
consistent with the United Nations Climate Change Scientists
predictions. We have got to get used to living with more extreme
weather events like this.

We need real long term political leadership for a strategy to manage
flooding not just at bottlenecks. We should start by seeing Sheffield
and the river catchment area it lies within managed as a whole.
Broadleaved woodland needs to be planted on slopes, stocking levels of
animals on farmland needs to be reduced. We should create banks across
slopes and retention ponds to slow down water flow; encourage more
permanent pasture so the soil acts like a sponge. Studies for the
Environment Agency shows that promoting farming methods that avoid the
use of heavy machinery can reduce run-off by up to 25%. We need to
conserve wetland and recreate reed-beds and woodland in flood plains
and stop canalising our streams and rivers. The Pontbren river
integrated catchment management project in mid-Wales uses this
integrated river catchment approach and has increased water
penetration sixty fold.

We need to implement the 2007 EU Soil Framework Directive and
encourage farmers to become active in Farmers Wildlife Action Groups
with the full backing of farm leaders. It means that English Nature,
the Environment Agency and water management agencies must be given the power to stop and reverse developments that makes flooding more
likely.

In planning there needs to be recognition, not only of the vital role
of green spaces, but also the need for more permeable surfaces to
reduce water flow. With the new construction and ongoing work of
organisations such as Sheffield Homes the blanket tarmacing of areas
for parking and the like needs to stop. We should reject the
assumption that all development should "as-of-right" be connected to a
drainage scheme. The use of alternatives such as grasscrete and
pebbles should be strongly advocated.

Recently the environment agency stated of the Sheffield Development
Framework that, "the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is not fit for
purpose". Hopefully the review will address the failings.

We need to have a more resiliant Sheffield. A city that has clear
emergency routes allowing access for services. A city with local
services, local energy production, and local food production drawn
from the rural economy that surrounds us. These measures are well
within our grasp and they will not only enrich communities and our day
to day lives, but mean that Sheffield has the independence to stand
strong in our changing world.


Best wishes,

Jason Leman