London: The prime minister, under growing pressure for not visiting the flood-hit Somerset levels, finally made a trip to the area on Friday where he vowed to do everything he could to help. David Cameron said, clearly people here faced a very tough time and continue to face a tough time, and that is why we have got to do everything we can to help.
So more pumps we brought in more pumps; more help from the emergency services more help is there; money to help Somerset to get back on its feet the money is there; the army coming in to help with sandbags, as they have other the past 24 hours.
Cameron visited a flooded farm on the Somerset Levels and met the third-generation farmer Tony Davy at Goodings Farm, which is under water in Fordgate. He also met emergency workers and visited evacuated residents in Bridgwater.
He suggested the cause of the problems lay with decisions taken by the last Labour government. “The pause in dredging that took place in the late 90s that was wrong. We need to get dredging again and I have said when the water levels come down and it is safe to dredge we will be dredging to make sure that these rivers and ditches can carry a better capacity of water.
There are lessons to be learned and I will make sure they are learned. Some dredging was done but clearly we need to go back to a period of much more intensive dredging. It is not the whole answer. Right now the priority is that anyone in Somerset who needs help gets help.
Bureau Report
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