Dredging would not have stopped massive UK floods - New Scientist

[Notters]

Out of interest, and genuine question, how much do the Netherlands spend on overseas aid and their armed forces, per head of population compared to us?

The stats for military are here:

http://www.nationmaster.com/compare/Netherlands/United-Kingdom/Military

The "top" rankings make grim reading!

http://www.nationmaster.com/country/uk/Top-Rankings

 

[BLOCK F]

You mean like the EA creating the new RSPB reserve at Medmerry (nr Selsey) which is going to help alleviate coastal flooding....

Not at all. This project both protects the humans and their homes and creates a new salt marsh for the birds.
Don't think the bird sanctuary in Somerset does that.
By the way,I live in Selsey and I have to tell you there had to be considerable pressure from the locals in the form of S.O.S.(Save Our Selsey) before a satisfactory solution for both humans and wildlife was reached.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

As I recall, and I may be wrong, but isn't pretty much all of the Netherlands below sea level? In which case, if they didn't spend a fortune on their sea/flood defences the country would cease to exist!!

Exactly. They need to spend the money. But they legislate for a one in a 1000 years occurrence, or similar, whereas we might do it for a one in 100 years. I probably have the figures wrong, but people will understand the point.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Out of interest, and genuine question, how much do the Netherlands spend on overseas aid and their armed forces, per head of population compared to us?

Sorry, no idea. I was just quoting this bloke's letter. But yes, it would be interesting to know.

 

[fat old seagull]

There is a letter in the Guardian today from a chartered engineer which points out that potential solutions have probably been planned at some point for all the places which are currently in trouble, but they have not been implemented because of cost. The Netherlands spends ten times what we do per head of population on flood/sea defences.

I am not saying we should spend that much more, but it is a perhaps a question of do you spend the money, or do you cope with the consequences.

Yes David it surely is about money, as much is today. Wouldn't it be nice if our politicians looked at the big picture and looked after the homeland a bit more, rather than thanklessly policing the World at HUGE expense.

 

[maltaseagull]

Dredgeing is not the complete solution.

They should raise the entire countryside by 3 metres and leave the rivers where they are. That would work wouldn't it?

 

[Husty]

No SHIT sherlock They could have contacted ME and I could have told them that and all I have is an A level in geography.

 

[SK1NT]

Nigel Farage thinks we should stop some of our foreign aid to the poorest in the world to help the middle classes affected by the floods

As one of the richest countries in the world it is our duty for humanity to help the worlds poorest

 

[Mr Bridger]

Nigel Farage thinks we should stop some of our foreign aid to the poorest in the world to help the middle classes affected by the floods

As one of the richest countries in the world it is our duty for humanity to help the worlds poorest

Benefit street ?

 

[Footsoldier]

Makes me laugh watching sky news when you see people saying this shouldn't happen again, what do they the government to do, build 20 feet walls all the way round the rivers and outlets.

Nothing will stop this from happening again.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Nigel Farage thinks we should stop some of our foreign aid to the poorest in the world to help the middle classes affected by the floods

As one of the richest countries in the world it is our duty for humanity to help the worlds poorest

I think what he was saying is that we stumped up £600million for Syrian refugees recently yet, simultaneously, we cut the flood defence budget by £10m. Then we have a massive downpour, Thames valley gets flooded, and Tory voters have wet Axminster.

As its Farage I will forgive him for his mental, and I mean mental, arithmetic as the man is an idiot. However he can smell disaffected Tory votes in wallingford and watlington so is making a very stupid point to woo some very stupid and selfish people.