The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) claimed that the failure by the Environment Agency to regularly dredge rivers could be increasing the risk of flooding, BBC reports.
After Wales endured one of its wettest summers on record, NFU urged the agency to resume full-time dredging.
An Environment Agency Wales spokeswoman said: “ We will always remove any blockages in a river which we believe may pose a flood risk to people’s homes or businesses. Unfortunately, dredging our rivers on a regular basis is not always effective at reducing flooding as many rivers quickly silt up again as part of their natural processes .”
Farmersguardian.com reports that the criticism has come from Montgomeryshire NFU members – particularly those farming around the Dyfi Estuary and on the banks of the River Severn.
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Dredging Today Staff, October 3, 2012