National
Press Office - 16-Jun-2008 - Green and lean
IT is a top priority for newly appointed
Simon Pitt, who takes over at the Environment
Agency as Head of Corporate Information
Services (CIS).
“The Environment Agency
has made some great progress over the past
few years improving IT systems,” said Simon
Pitt.
“However as the environmental
stakes have got higher, the Environment
Agency is under pressure to deliver more,
better and faster IT in order to keep apace
of the changing environment. I’m excited
at having the chance to drive this change
forward.”
Simon, who joins the
Environment Agency having worked at the
Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), will be
responsible for overseeing teams based in
England and Wales who provide IT systems
and support to its 12,000 workforce. Prior
to joining the ODA, where he was responsible
for establishing the IT to develop the infrastructure
for the 2012 Olympics, Simon was Director
of Information Management at London Underground
Limited.
Simon continued: “The
Environment Agency has set itself the challenge
to deliver the best IT in government. If
the IT isn’t working then the organisation
isn’t either, which for the Environment
Agency can mean the environment isn’t being
protected.
“Therefore I’m keen
to transfer knowledge and skills I’ve gained
while working for organisations like the
ODA where I had to work under pressure to
meet tight deadlines and deal with new and
diverse people.”
CIS is currently undergoing
significant change with the tendering process
underway for most environmentally sustainable
‘green’ government IT contract ever. Simon
is no stranger to dealing with major change.
At London Underground he was responsible
for a major programme of technology-led
change, which included providing real time
travel information across the Underground
network.
Simon adds: “Team work
at London Underground was essential – we
all had to work together to ensure that
when disruptions occurred appropriate and
timely action was taken to minimise the
very immediate impact on millions of customers.”
Corporate Information
Services (CIS) is the part of the Environment
Agency that provides the organisation’s
IT services. As well as day-to-day IT support
services to departments and individual staff,
CIS also develops strategy and supports
business change programmes to ensure it
meets the Environment Agency’s present and
future IT needs.
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Environment Agency Wales
launches new water recreation strategy
Curig Jones - 16-Jun-2008
- Environment Agency Wales is encouraging
people to take to the waters this Summer
with the launch of a new water recreation
strategy. It explains how to use the waters
safely and responsibly in a way that won’t
damage the environment and recognises the
rights of fellow users.
Going fishing, sailing,
canoeing, gorge walking or simply paddling
with the children are all included in the
strategy, which promotes water recreation
as a great way of getting fit whilst enjoying
some amazing outdoor scenery.
Environment Agency Wales
hopes the new strategy will provide more
opportunities for everyone to experience
a wide variety of water activities, leading
to a healthier lifestyle and a healthier
environment.
Wales has over 4,000
km of rivers, over 1,400 km of coast and
650 lakes. The new strategy looks at how
we can best use these natural facilities
without over-crowding certain areas and
having a detrimental effect on the water
quality, the wildlife and any existing rights
of users.
Chris Mills, Director
of Environment Agency Wales, said:
“Our rivers, lakes and
coastline are cleaner and healthier than
they have ever been. We at Environment Agency
Wales, along with our partners, water companies,
industry and farmers, are working hard to
make sure they stay that way.
“And people should be
able to use and enjoy these waters. It’s
a great way to develop an understanding
of how precious an environment we have in
Wales.
“However, as well as
being responsible for protecting and improving
the water environment, Environment Agency
Wales has a duty to protect water related
sports recreation.
“We are pleased to have
led on the development of this strategy
and look forward to working alongside many
others to implement it.”
Jane Davidson AM took
the opportunity to experience some water
recreation first hand at Llandegfedd reservoir
with a quick sailing trip (see pictures).
Minister for Environment,
Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson
said:
“As Minister responsible
for countryside access I am pleased to have
the opportunity today formally to launch
this new Strategic Plan for water related
recreation in Wales. It is also appropriate
to do so on World Environment Day, when
we can all usefully remind ourselves how
important our natural environment is to
our lives.
“I believe that water
resources in Wales are under-utilised in
terms of opportunities for recreation and
have huge potential to be used for recreational
activities – on a sustainable and responsible
basis.
“A range of benefits
are available to the people of Wales and
visitors to Wales if we can do this successfully.
Our economy in Wales can benefit significantly
from the development of more water based
recreation initiatives.
“The new Strategic Plan
has a real focus on possible new opportunities
for water-based recreation across Wales
and identifies a number of exciting possibilities,
including further opportunities at reservoirs
like Llandegfedd.
“But the Plan rightly
highlights the extensive variety of water
resources in Wales – rivers, lakes, canals,
estuaries, reservoirs as well as coastal
waters – all of which have potential for
offering new or expanded opportunities for
water-based recreation.
“To help implement the
Plan and to deliver the new opportunities
it highlights, the Welsh Assembly Government
will be providing new funding of over £400,000
this year to the Environment Agency for
new water recreation projects.
“I understand there
are plans for new/improved facilities at
Llandegfedd itself – and the new resources
may well help here as just one example.
I am keen though for these new resources
to assist in delivering improved opportunities
across Wales.
“The Strategic Plan
will explore ways – on a consensus basis
– for new and expanded opportunities for
water-based recreation.
“The pilot projects
which the Assembly Government funded last
year have already shown on the Rivers Usk
and Wye how progress can be made by the
different interests working together – and
its that kind of partnership approach that
we need to build on in implementing the
Strategic Plan.”
One year on Environment
Agency continues to tackle flood risk in
the West Midlands
Michelle Dolphin - 16-Jun-2008
- One year on from unprecedented rainfall
which led to flooding in the West Midlands,
the Environment Agency has been working
tirelessly to minimise the risks of flooding
to people and their homes.
Across England and Wales
34 new flood defences have been built, increasing
protection to 30,000 homes. A further £1billion
will be invested over the next three years
on schemes to improve protection to at least
another 145,000 households.
Officers in the Midlands
have been working non-stop over the last
12 months inspecting, rebuilding and maintaining
the1,200km of defences in just over 4,680km
of river. They have also been working with
local communities, gathering information,
advising people how to prepare for flooding,
and planning new defences to help protect
more households and businesses.
In Fazeley the flood
bank has been raised by 300mm and a floodwall
and embankment have been constructed at
New Mill Lane to help protect more properties.
In Witton maintenance work has been carried
out and trees cut back on the River Tame.
Maintenance work on the flood wall at Brookvale
Road and desilting works will also be carried
out this year.
Throughout the Midlands
region 1,833 people attended the 32 flood
surgeries held in the weeks after the floods.
People shared their experiences and were
encouraged to sign up to receive the Environment
Agency flood warning service.
Despite this, people
in the West Midlands are still not doing
enough to protect themselves from flooding.
Over 70% of people whose homes are located
in river floodplains, and are therefore
at real risk of suffering the devastating
effects of having floodwater in their houses,
have still not joined the Environment Agency’s
warning systems. Warnings will not prevent
the floods, but they can, and do, give people
time to ensure their families, valuables
or treasured items are protected.
Flood Risk Manager,
John Buckingham said “We are committed to
protecting communities from the distress
and damage caused by flooding. Over the
past year, we have worked very hard to reduce
flood risk for the people who flooded last
summer and we will continue to do everything
in our power to defend them.
“However, there is a
lot that individuals can do to reduce the
personal trauma that occurs when their homes
are inundated with water. Our flood warnings
can give them a few valuable hours in which
they can take action. They can have our
warnings sent to almost any media, such
as a call to their mobile while at work,
to warn them that they may want to return
home to prepare. There is advice on our
website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
about what you can do to reduce the risk.
This advice is also available by calling
Floodline on 0845 988 1188.”
