Jane Nower - 28-Mar-2008
- London, 27 March 2008 The British Council’s
International Climate Champions experienced
the problems facing major cities around
the world when they visited the Thames Barrier
today, investigating the predicted impact
of, and solutions to, rising sea levels
that will affect cities worldwide such as
London, Mumbai, New York and Kobe.
Thirty nine young climate
change activists from the UK and twelve
countries from across the world are visiting
London to work on an urgent message to world
leaders on climate change and present a
call to action – The Kobe Challenge – to
Environment Ministers at their G8 meeting
in Japan. They were chosen as part of the
Low Carbon Futures programme, a British
Council initiative to build a better understanding
of climate change among the younger generation
and to promote action to combat its effects.
The Climate Champions
were met by Sir John Harman, Chairman of
the Environment Agency, before travelling
by boat to the Thames Barrier. Along the
way, they learnt about the influence of
the River Thames and the affect that climate
change could potentially have on London
and the south east. Before waving them off,
Sir John said: `Climate change is the biggest
threat our environment faces. We are lucky
in the Thames Region in that the Thames
Barrier, in partnership with our TE2100
project, will protect us from increased
tidal flooding for many years to come. However,
climate change is an issue that must be
tackled internationally, as well as locally,
and we must work with our partners around
the world to promote a better understanding
of the issue. It is the younger generation
who will inherit the impacts of climate
change in the future and it was fantastic
to meet such a vibrant and dedicated group
of individuals today.’
Young climate change
activists from the UK and twelve countries
from across the world are visiting London
to work on an urgent message to world leaders
on climate change and present a call to
action – The Kobe Challenge – to Environment
Ministers at their G8 meeting in Japan.
As part of the British Council’s International
Climate Champions (ICC) initiative, the
participants from Brazil, Canada, China,
France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, and
USA will be in London between 24 to 29 March
to craft their Kobe Challenge for the high
level meeting in Japan in May this year.
The London visit will
also see them explore climate change issues
with experts, and in preparation for Kobe,
they will discuss their concerns and aspirations
with the Secretary of State for the Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Hilary Benn
MP, at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 26
March, 2008. British Council Chief Executive,
Martin Davidson, said: ‘Climate change is
an unprecedented challenge and one that
affects us all. Unfortunately, it is the
youth of today who will inherit its potentially
devastating impact for decades to come.
The British Council has a long history through
our work in cultural relations of promoting
commitment among young people to address
shared challenges such as those posed by
climate change. I am delighted that the
International Climate Champions are already
taking this message of urgent positive action
on climate change into their homes, schools
and communities.’
The International Climate
Champions (ICC) initiative is part of the
British Council’s three-year Low Carbon
Futures programme of activities to provide
an international platform for young people,
local partners and leaders around the world
to build an international consensus around
action on climate change. The International
Climate Champions will return home to work
with their country champions and others
to develop networks and a calendar of initiatives
to communicate the issue, engage decision
makers and promote the role young people
can play in tackling climate change.
As a follow up to the
Kobe event there will be a commitment from
each International Champion to implement
a climate communication project in their
country within a year. The International
Climate Champions will also be sharing their
experiences through blogs, podcasts, YouTube
and others. They will also petition the
wider public to vote on their Kobe Challenge
which they will take to the Environment
Ministers G8 meeting in Kobe. For young
people to cast their vote, go to www.britishcouncil.org/climatechampions
+ More
Environment Agency exhibition
explains changes to flood alleviation scheme
Jane Nower - 1-Apr-2008
- The Environment Agency will explain its
amended plans for the Salmon’s Brook flood
alleviation scheme for Enfield and Edmonton
at two exhibitions on 9 and 10 April 2008
between 3 – 7:30pm. The first event will
be held at Cheyne Walk Open Space, off Cheyne
Walk, Grange Park and the second at Montagu
Road Recreation Ground, Lower Edmonton,
next to the pavilion.
The planned £12m
scheme will reduce flood risk to over 1,700
homes and businesses in the area, as well
as creating a valuable recreational and
seasonal wetland habitat at Montagu Road
Recreation Ground. The neighbourhood has
suffered extensively from flooding in the
past, most notably in 2000, when Salmon’s
Brook overtopped banks, causing 192 properties
to flood.
As Salmon’s Brook flows
through World’s End, Grange Park, Bush Hill
and Lower Edmonton, the project incorporates
a number of different elements. These include
creating two flood storage areas, raising
flood defences and installing flood relief
culverts. The public exhibitions will offer
residents and landowners the chance to talk
about the revised plans with technical specialists
from the Environment Agency and engineering
consultants Halcrow.
Environment Agency project
manager, Steven Lee, said: “Planning consent
for this scheme was approved by the London
Borough of Enfield - with conditions - in
September 2005. Since then we have made
changes to the detailed design to overcome
some technical difficulties and have amended
and improved the design to meet their planning
conditions.
“At present, homes and
properties in this area are at risk from
a 5 per cent or 1 in 20 risk of flooding
in any year. This scheme is a large multi-site
proposal that will protect 1,600 residential
and 100 commercial properties from a 1 per
cent (1 in 75) chance of flooding in any
year.
Steve Whipp, a member
of the asset systems management team driving
the project added: “We are committed to
keeping residents informed about the progress
and development of this scheme, helping
to explain the technical changes that have
been made.”
The Environment Agency
hopes to submit a planning application to
the London Borough of Enfield in July 2008
and subject to gaining all relevant approvals
and funding, construction is currently scheduled
to begin in 2010, to be completed in 2012.
A newsletter has already
been distributed to the 1,600 residents
who will be affected by the scheme, explaining
its effects. Information will also be available
in the Enfield Civic Centre and Edmonton
Green Library from 7 April 2008.
Ends
Notes for editors
Media and photographers
are welcome to attend this event from 2:45pm
onwards, on Wednesday 9 April 2008 at the
entrance to Cheyne Walk Open Space, off
Cheyne Walk, until 7:30pm, or Thursday 10
April 2008 at Montagu Road Recreation Ground,
next to the pavilion.
Pictures of flooding
in Enfield and Edmonton in 2000 are available.
Steven Lee, and Steve
Whipp from the Environment Agency asset
system management project team will be available
for interview this week, and at the event.
Further details about the scheme will be
submitted with the planning application
and will be made available for public viewing
by the London Borough of Enfield later in
the year.
Flooding is a natural
process and can not be entirely prevented.
Flood alleviation schemes are built and
maintained where they can be shown to be
economically viable and sustainable, subject
to available funding. The Environment Agency
aims to reduce the distress, likelihood
of injury and damage to property by providing
advance warnings of flooding.
Part of our role is
to warn people who continue to be at risk
of flooding. We strongly urge all residents
and businesses at risk of flooding to register
for our automatic flood warning service
– this is a telephone call, text or e-mail
from us telling you that flooding is possible.
You can register for this service by calling
Floodline on 0845 988 1188. Getting an early
warning can help you reduce the impact of
flooding, for example, giving you time to
move electrical items, valuables and furniture
to an upper floor.
You can also gain flood
warning information online. In addition
to the standard summaries, users can search
by postcode, town or river. The site is
linked to our Floodline pages so people
can find out more about the flood warning
service and how to prepare for a flood.
See www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodwarnings
+ More
Environment Agency invites
community to comment on flood plan
Lucy Harding - 2-Apr-2008
- The Environment Agency is inviting people
concerned about river flooding in North
Kent to help identify how it can be managed
for the next 100 years. It is developing
the North Kent Rivers Catchment Flood Management
Plan and the draft is now available for
public consultation.
Catchment Flood Management
Plans are large-scale plans that explore
and identify how flood can be managed long-term.
The consultation phase allows anyone with
an interest in the North Kent rivers area,
which includes Sevenoaks, Orpington, Bexley,
Dartford, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Faversham
and the Isle of Sheppey, to contribute to
the plan. All comments must be received
by 9 June 2008.
Andrew Pearce, Environment
Agency Kent & East Sussex Area Flood
Risk Manager, said:
“This report has been
compiled in partnership with a number of
organisations to further understand the
flood risk in the North Kent Rivers catchment.
An important part of this process is for
local people to express their views and
concerns before we develop the final plan,
which will identify the most appropriate
way of managing flood risk in this area.
“We can’t stop all flooding
but we can try and reduce the risk. If you
want to find out if you are at risk, call
us or check our website – you will then
be able to get further advice and register
with our free flood warning service.”
After the consultation
period, the Environment Agency will continue
to work with its partners to ensure that
policies will manage flood risk as well
as achieving additional environmental benefits.
Members of the public can inspect copies
of the document at the following libraries:
Dartford Library, Gravesend Library, Maidstone
Library, Sevenoaks Library, Sittingbourne
Library, Minster Library, Faversham Library.
A copy is also available on our website
at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Interested parties wishing
to comment on the report should respond
to: Regional Strategic and Development Planning,
Environment Agency, Guildbourne House, Chatsworth
Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1LD or
email rebecca.reynolds@environment.agency.gov.uk
by 9 June 2008
To find out about our
flood warning service and how you can protect
yourself and your home call Floodline on
0845 988 1188 or visit: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline.
