Durham University - UK at risk of further flooding

The UK has to prepare for more flooding over the next few decades, according to an academic based at a new research centre. Stuart Lane, from Durham University's Institute of Hazard and Risk, said the UK may be entering a "flood-rich" period after 30-40 drier years. Professor Lane analysed rainfall and river-flow patterns since 1753 and found periods of decades that had been especially wet or dry. He found that the period between the 1960s and 1990s was relatively flood-free compared with periods in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which may indicate that the UK may be due for more flooding. He said the dry spell had lowered our awareness of flood risk. "This has made it easier to go on building on flood plains. It has also helped us to believe that we can manage flooding without too much cost, simply because there was not that much flooding to manage."