What is needed is more money, these constant cuts were always going to cause problems, even with all the fuss about these terrible floods the government are still insisting that the Environment Agency needs to be watching budgets. So they're getting rid of 500 more staff - like you do at a time like this. Unless I misunderstand the point of government isn't it raising revenues to provide the services that people need to live at a reasonable standard? That means raising taxes, that's where governments get their money, this lot only want to cut taxes and expect people to provide services they want for free, it is madness. Governments and councils have huge purchasing power and the infrastructure to provide services that the populace wants, it is sheer stupidity to keep banging on about paying less in tax - if it means paying for the things you want as an individual which has to be much more expensive, to me it's a no-brainer. Instead of passing the buck someone needs to grasp the challenge - be honest - and say how much we need to cough up if we want decent standards of health care, education, social care and all the other things that make lives more pleasurable such as libraries, parks, decent roads and even road sweeping. It all costs and you can't do more with less no matter what government says, it is not feasible, look at the mess the country is in because of this stupid ideology, no doubt this flooding will land up costing more than the investment would have done in the first place.
Vanessa Smith ● 4372d