WITH the floods continuing, our concern must be for those affected by these events and the question of prevention or minimisation for such in the future.

Global warming seems to be the reason given by parties responsible for the river system.

This is strange as the increase in the temperature in the UK due to this will give a climate similar to that experienced 2,000 years ago during the Roman occupation!

Also, when similar conditions were experienced, global warming was unheard of.

However, it must be noted that, on that occasion, which threatened the city of London, immediate steps were taken to erect a barrage to prevent this.

Much of the worst aspects of the flooding are the result of neglect over the years as vital maintenance was abandoned.

Rivers are not dredged, water courses are clogged and almost disappeared and land drainage is carried out by landowners since the grant to farmers for this was withdrawn.

And ditches, vital to the drainage system, are completely clogged and have disappeared altogether in some cases.

This latter is the result of using a ''flail'' cutter to trim hedges, the debris remaining on the ground instead of being cleared and burnt, as was the practice.

Housing developments are build with little regard to the effect on the environment, including the encroachment on the flood plains and water meadows, this being much cheaper than recovering derelict and rundown areas.

Much, if not all of the responsibility for the problem, must rest with the Governments and local councils who have put ''prestige'' and ''desirable'' urban and other projects - the Dome being a classic - when money on this could have provided a barrage on the Severn and controls on the Avon.

But none of these vital features are considered ''eye-catching'' or ''prestigious'' to publicity conscious politicians and councillors.

After all, there is not much glamour in drains and ditches.

WMJ Cairns

Astwood Bank