Skip to main content Skip to navigation NCE FOR MAJOR PROJECT NEWS Leader Join the debate Is civil engineering a career that rewards the best talent Antony Oliver NCE Editor Search the site Home News Transport Business Contracts news Party Conferences 2009 Structures Geotechnical Water flooding Round Table Energy Plant ICE International Low Carbon Features Major Projects Market Data Video Expert Opinion Cafe NCE RSS Events ICE Jobs Home News Water Sign in Register now Floods Bill the priority 1 October 2009 By Ed Owen A floods Bill is essential in this coming parliament although new national standards to combat floods may hamper widespread uptake of sustainable drainage systems SUDS water engineers warn Floods minister Huw Irranca Davies this week said the Floods Bill may be delayed in this parliament New legislation is required to push through changes proposed by Sir Michael Pitt in his final report into the 2007 floods last year Speaking at a Labour Party Conference Fringe event yesterday chair of the British Water SUDS group and director of Hydro International Alex Stephenson said Despite the unanswered questions I would strongly urge the Government to do whatever is possible to implement the legislative changes required as soon as possible We must not lose sight of the potential for catastrophic floods like those in 2007 which prompted the current review The next major flood event is only just around the corner The flooding Minister did not rule out the possibility of an emergency bill to be included in the Queens Speech although the parliamentary Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee has said that the Government must not rush through the legislation and miss the opportunity for a more comprehensive water management bill It s true that current draft legislation raises many unanswered questions But the job in hand is for the Government to listen to the 600 consultations now received and make progress as quickly as possible said Stephenson Consensus at NCE and Hydro s recent flooding round table event a