Paying For The Somerset Dredging

[joggerjayne]

Just a chatting point.

Throwing it in the air, really.

If the rivers needed dredging, why didn't the local authority just stick a bit on the council tax, and hire a dredger?

Are they not allowed to do it?

[humbersloop]

looks like they could if they wanted jj, but it's just a bit more complicated than bunging in a dredger

https://www.cla.org.uk/your-area/south-west/regional-news/rbw-society-somerset-levels-appeal

go!! the Curling teams, btw ;)

[boxtops]

Is it to do with national strategy rather than a local issue, though? One river flows through many different local authorities.

[joggerjayne]

I don't know what the answer is, and I've only seen a little bit in the News.

But the Environment Agency seems to be getting it in the neck, rather than the local authority.

[stewey]

" As the waters were drained from Tube lines and debris cleared from the Embankment, there were political rows about dredging and whether local or central government should take responsibility." Read this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26153241

[boxtops]

That's because it's the EA's responsibility, not the LA. The LA can ask as much as it likes, it's the EA who provides (or doesn't) the central funding.

[joggerjayne]

Does it have to come from central funding, or can the local authority prioritise the use of their local revenue?