Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Rods2 on 16 February 2014, 13:28:01

Title: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Rods2 on 16 February 2014, 13:28:01
Very interesting read.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/16/the-real-reason-for-flooding-in-somerset-levels-not-global-warming-the-only-pump-was-turned-off/ (http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/16/the-real-reason-for-flooding-in-somerset-levels-not-global-warming-the-only-pump-was-turned-off/)
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 February 2014, 14:11:09
Hmm. Destroying people's homes to prop up the AGW myth - or just plain negligent? Not nice, either way. >:(
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: biggriffin on 16 February 2014, 14:48:12
After reading that, why do i still see different government departments blaming each other, and green tree huggers blaming global warming.
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: chrisgixer on 16 February 2014, 18:19:29
Conspiracy theorists almost always credit way too much intelligence to the powers that be. Understandable given they are in power and must be clever, right? No, they are incompetent. Seemples.

On the one hand they must save money, on the other serve the public. Let's say they responded to conditions and spent millions(?) or whatever on pumping, draining, etc. ....public outcry on the cost follows after a a Daily Fail headline no doubt, especially if the weather doesn't arrive.
 Or the weather does arrive and EA are caught pants down and can't cope.

Then there's the incompetent theory, where they do neither and F##k it up at both ends of the scale.

Management. I tell you. Utterly incompetent. Its across the board. Chase the bonus, stuff every thing else.
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: hotel21 on 16 February 2014, 19:54:55
Whilst I don't normally agree with the assorted conspiracy theories out in the big wide world at large there's something in this one that hits a cord with me. Sort of holds water, if you follow.....   :o
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: PhilRich on 16 February 2014, 21:27:12
Whilst I don't normally agree with the assorted conspiracy theories out in the big wide world at large there's something in this one that hits a cord with me. Sort of holds water, if you follow.....   :o





Agree with that. When I read it, it left a distinctly uneasy feeling in my waters too! :-\
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: chrisgixer on 16 February 2014, 21:28:24
Whilst I don't normally agree with the assorted conspiracy theories out in the big wide world at large there's something in this one that hits a cord with me. Sort of holds water, if you follow.....   :o

...pun intended of course? :)
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: cd 2.2 on 17 February 2014, 01:34:47
I do feel sorry for the people affected by the flooding, But if you are going to build, buy or live in a house built on a flood plane then what the hell do you expect to happen?? I mean it's going to happen one day it's inevitable really ::)
Doesn't really matter what department in government blames whichever organisation it's just life! And lets face it what's insurance for?
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: 05omegav6 on 17 February 2014, 01:57:53
I do feel sorry for the people affected by the flooding, But if you are going to build, buy or live in a house built on a flood plane then what the hell do you expect to happen?? I mean it's going to happen one day it's inevitable really ::)
Doesn't really matter what department in government blames whichever organisation it's just life! And lets face it what's insurance for?
Basically to cover you against unforseen circumstances... flooding, on a flood plain, is neither unforseen, nor exceptional. So people will either not be covered against flood damage or will not have been able to buy insurance...

Case in point... that bungalow that fell into the sea in Norfolk in November, covered for flooding, storm damage,  earthquakes etc. The only exception...

... coastal erosion.

That is why people are so desperate for the government to do summat :-\
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 February 2014, 10:53:38
Many parts of this country rely on at least some intervention in order to keep them drained or protected from coastal flooding, and have done for hundreds of years. Are we simply going to write them off (along, presumably, with the housing they contribute and the tax revenue they generate) to save a few quid?

Insurance companies, rightly, aren't going to stomach coughing up for this on a regular basis when the authorities are shown to have been inept.

Yes, there have been cutbacks. I suspect somewhere in the EA, there are engineers who have been jumping up and down warning that it was "only a matter of time" but, of course, as is the norm, these days, the decisions get made by some public school / oxbridge educated arts graduate on a six figure salary. ::)
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 17 February 2014, 12:51:34
I do feel sorry for the people affected by the flooding, But if you are going to build, buy or live in a house built on a flood plane then what the hell do you expect to happen?? I mean it's going to happen one day it's inevitable really ::)
Doesn't really matter what department in government blames whichever organisation it's just life! And lets face it what's insurance for?
Basically to cover you against unforseen circumstances... flooding, on a flood plain, is neither unforseen, nor exceptional. So people will either not be covered against flood damage or will not have been able to buy insurance...

Case in point... that bungalow that fell into the sea in Norfolk in November, covered for flooding, storm damage,  earthquakes etc. The only exception...

... coastal erosion.


That is why people are so desperate for the government to do summat :-\

But that erosion has been happening for centuries and the woman who bought the bungalow knew of the quickening erosion risk. She took the gamble, as she could not expect anyone else to take the risk.  As she should have expected she lost. Life is a bitch, but if you take unnecessary gambles, like buying a property on the edge of a river or on a known flood plain, you cannot expect much sympathy. Like buying a property in San Francisco, on the San Andreas Fault Line, you know the risk and you can hardly expect the insurance companies or the government to bail you out with other peoples money when it all goes wrong.

Hard line thought?  Yes, but I think realistic and people must stop moaning about us being in a "nanny state", then expecting the state to do everything for them when they have taken a gamble and it has gone wrong.

Obviously I feel very sorry for those who have suffered, who maybe are in areas not previously prone to flooding, but we all must take responsibility for our own decisions.
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: 05omegav6 on 18 February 2014, 14:15:24
Said house was actually on a clifftop at Hemsby :y been a long time coming but did highlight the futility of insuring against the inevitable...
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Rods2 on 18 February 2014, 17:50:50
Many parts of this country rely on at least some intervention in order to keep them drained or protected from coastal flooding, and have done for hundreds of years. Are we simply going to write them off (along, presumably, with the housing they contribute and the tax revenue they generate) to save a few quid?

Insurance companies, rightly, aren't going to stomach coughing up for this on a regular basis when the authorities are shown to have been inept.

Yes, there have been cutbacks. I suspect somewhere in the EA, there are engineers who have been jumping up and down warning that it was "only a matter of time" but, of course, as is the norm, these days, the decisions get made by some public school / oxbridge educated arts graduate on a six figure salary. ::)

For about a 1000 years as the Fens started to be drained during Roman times.
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: aaronjb on 18 February 2014, 18:43:57
Speaking of turning pumps off.. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26230278)
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: tunnie on 18 February 2014, 18:48:32
Ooops!
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 18 February 2014, 19:48:05
Many parts of this country rely on at least some intervention in order to keep them drained or protected from coastal flooding, and have done for hundreds of years. Are we simply going to write them off (along, presumably, with the housing they contribute and the tax revenue they generate) to save a few quid?

Insurance companies, rightly, aren't going to stomach coughing up for this on a regular basis when the authorities are shown to have been inept.

Yes, there have been cutbacks. I suspect somewhere in the EA, there are engineers who have been jumping up and down warning that it was "only a matter of time" but, of course, as is the norm, these days, the decisions get made by some public school / oxbridge educated arts graduate on a six figure salary. ::)

For about a 1000 years as the Fens started to be drained during Roman times.
[/highlight]

That makes it 1600 years ago :y
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Rods2 on 18 February 2014, 23:48:55
Many parts of this country rely on at least some intervention in order to keep them drained or protected from coastal flooding, and have done for hundreds of years. Are we simply going to write them off (along, presumably, with the housing they contribute and the tax revenue they generate) to save a few quid?

Insurance companies, rightly, aren't going to stomach coughing up for this on a regular basis when the authorities are shown to have been inept.

Yes, there have been cutbacks. I suspect somewhere in the EA, there are engineers who have been jumping up and down warning that it was "only a matter of time" but, of course, as is the norm, these days, the decisions get made by some public school / oxbridge educated arts graduate on a six figure salary. ::)

For about a 1000 years as the Fens started to be drained during Roman times.
[/highlight]

That makes it 1600 years ago :y

I meant to say almost 2,000 year old where first Roman workings date from about 120AD.  :-[
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 19 February 2014, 10:46:01
Many parts of this country rely on at least some intervention in order to keep them drained or protected from coastal flooding, and have done for hundreds of years. Are we simply going to write them off (along, presumably, with the housing they contribute and the tax revenue they generate) to save a few quid?

Insurance companies, rightly, aren't going to stomach coughing up for this on a regular basis when the authorities are shown to have been inept.

Yes, there have been cutbacks. I suspect somewhere in the EA, there are engineers who have been jumping up and down warning that it was "only a matter of time" but, of course, as is the norm, these days, the decisions get made by some public school / oxbridge educated arts graduate on a six figure salary. ::)

For about a 1000 years as the Fens started to be drained during Roman times.
[/highlight]

That makes it 1600 years ago :y

I meant to say almost 2,000 year old where first Roman workings date from about 120AD.  :-[
[/highlight]

 :y :y :y

Yep, the Romans were very advanced and anything to do with water irrigation was just one of their skills. When the last legion left our shores in 410 AD the Brits had lost a great advantage, and it took another 1000 years before they started to pick up and advance from where the Romans had left. ;)
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 19 February 2014, 11:32:39
:y :y :y

Yep, the Romans were very advanced and anything to do with water irrigation was just one of their skills. When the last legion left our shores in 410 AD the Brits had lost a great advantage, and it took another 1000 years before they started to pick up and advance from where the Romans had left. ;)

Shame they left, really. Maybe the EA could have employed them as consultants. ::)
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 19 February 2014, 12:28:46
:y :y :y

Yep, the Romans were very advanced and anything to do with water irrigation was just one of their skills. When the last legion left our shores in 410 AD the Brits had lost a great advantage, and it took another 1000 years before they started to pick up and advance from where the Romans had left. ;)

Shame they left, really. Maybe the EA could have employed them as consultants. ::)
 

I often think along those lines. In Summer we would not have the draughts we do in the South as the Romans would have built a series of aqueducts from North to South to distribute fresh water.  Their water management would have ensured a good system to control the flows of surplus water and avoid flooding.  It would also have created a system of fresh water supply to homes and general areas of occupation long before the 16th century when Henry VIII had such a system feeding his palaces. 

Oh yes, the Romans could have done so much more for us if they had not had the problems they did back in Rome.   :y
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 19 February 2014, 12:31:14
I often think along those lines. In Summer we would not have the draughts we do in the South as the Romans would have built a series of aqueducts from North to South to distribute fresh water.  Their water management would have ensured a good system to control the flows of surplus water and avoid flooding.  It would also have created a system of fresh water supply to homes and general areas of occupation long before the 16th century when Henry VIII had such a system feeding his palaces. 

Oh yes, the Romans could have done so much more for us if they had not had the problems they did back in Rome.   :y

.. alternatively, they might have been privatised by now, so they'd be sitting on their laurels, pandering to their shareholders while the "plebs" suffer. ;D
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 19 February 2014, 13:00:00
I often think along those lines. In Summer we would not have the draughts we do in the South as the Romans would have built a series of aqueducts from North to South to distribute fresh water.  Their water management would have ensured a good system to control the flows of surplus water and avoid flooding.  It would also have created a system of fresh water supply to homes and general areas of occupation long before the 16th century when Henry VIII had such a system feeding his palaces. 

Oh yes, the Romans could have done so much more for us if they had not had the problems they did back in Rome.   :y

.. alternatively, they might have been privatised by now, so they'd be sitting on their laurels, pandering to their shareholders while the "plebs" suffer. ;D

Oh dear, I hadn't thought of that!  Yes Thatcherum Caesar would have influenced that by now ;D  ;D ;D;D
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: 05omegav6 on 19 February 2014, 14:22:26
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9foi342LXQE

 ;D
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 19 February 2014, 15:53:27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9foi342LXQE

 ;D

One of the classics! ;D ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: Why is flooding so bad in the Somerset levels? In 2008 pump turned off!
Post by: Rods2 on 23 February 2014, 21:09:32
More interesting reading on the Somerset Levels, where EU regulations have put wildlife and habitat on an equal level with human life and dwellings.  :(

http://www.eureferendum.com/ (http://www.eureferendum.com/)