Quote:
Originally Posted by
popopot
Bu-dum-tish!
I saw on the news that most new housing developments are being built on flood plains, and apparently, the developers ask the environmental agency about flooding and whether they should build on flood plains; the agencies say no, but they just go ahead anyway. Also, the government has to subsidise the fucking thieving bastard insurance companies so that they will insure people that buy a house on a flood plain. Glad to see my tax money is being spent well. Fuckers.
Actually, the blame for this can usually be laid fairly and squarely at the door of the Environment Agency (EA).
The developer does not ask the EA for advice. If they did so and then ignored that advice they would almost certainly be liable, so they don't ask.
What happens is that the local authority will ask the EA for advice on allowing building on the flood plain, and the EA will usually say it is not advisable. That is sufficient for the local authority to refuse the planning application which is what they usually do.
At this point the developer lodges an appeal. That appeal is heard by none other than the EA, and the planning application is usually granted. Since the planning application has been approved by the EA, the developers are in the clear over future liability for flooding problems.
This system was introduced and approved by former deputy prime minister John Prescott. Who says he never did anything?