Think again on flood defences

THE fiasco of the Godmanchester Causeway flood barrier appears to have been greeted with disapproval by a lot of residents of the borough.

The Causeway is an environmental haven for all types of wildlife above and below the surface. It should be preserved, not destroyed.

The Environment Agency has proved beyond doubt that it knows very little about the very responsible duty of maintaining our waterways. To maintain the high standards required to do this work needs highly-skilled engineers, as we had in the past. It is not a job for amateurs. To upset the fine balance of the Great Ouse will lead to trouble in later years.

The Ouse must not be compared with West Country rivers. It is a slow-flowing river and is classified as a main drain. The artery of the Fens, it is approximately 160 miles long and needs constant attention. It also has several tributaries that must be maintained to a high level.

According to representatives of the EA, dredging is not their policy. One can only wonder what their policy really is.

It is imperative that places such as Alconbury Brook be kept clear of any obstruction. Otherwise, it will overflow and cause extensive flooding on the A1(M).

Houses that have been built on flood plains will at some time come under threat of flooding. The only answer is not to build on flood plains.

Dredging and maintenance must be done. It is expensive, so the EA cannot afford to waste millions of pounds on crackpot ideas. During the past few weeks, they and councillors who supported them have made themselves the laughing stock of the community.

On their own admission, the building of a fence at the Old Mill was a mistake, as they had no authority to put it there. They cannot afford to make stupid mistakes like this.

WILLIAM E BROWN

Rectory Gardens

Godmanchester