On 18th September the Council finally adopted a Directive of the European parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks. The adoption followed an agreement with the European Parliament in April and the Directive will enter into force upon its publication in the Official Journal.

United Utilities has started work on replacing pipes damaged when bridges collapsed and river beds were swept away in last November’s floods in west Cumbria.

In the anniversary week of the 2007 floods, Yorkshire Water is calling on the Government to give water companies a greater role in surface water management.