District councils in low-lying areas of England are facing a financial crisis due to the rising costs of preventing major floods caused by extreme weather and excessive rainfall. Some councils in the east of the country are having to cut day-to-day services such as bin collections to meet unsustainable increases in payments levied for pumping stations used to protect communities from flooding.
According to the Association of Drainage Authorities, councils are struggling to meet the growing demands on watercourse drainage networks, which are at full capacity due to increased rainfall and rising energy bills. The costs of pumping stations and watercourse maintenance have been predominantly met by local council tax payers, but with climate change and surges in energy costs, councils are finding it increasingly difficult to cover the expenses.
Some district councils are spending up to a fifth of their annual net budget on the drainage levy, with costs escalating by an average of 30% over the past two years. Neighboring councils such as Boston borough council and East Lindsey district council in Lincolnshire have seen significant increases in their drainage levies, putting strain on their budgets.
The District Councils Network has called for proper funding for flood prevention to ensure the maintenance of flood defenses and avoid catastrophic flooding that could threaten lives and livelihoods. The government has announced the launch of a Flood Resilience Taskforce to accelerate the delivery of flood defenses and drainage systems, as well as promote nature recovery to increase climate resilience.
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