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<p>It is important that the Environment Agency is able to focus its efforts and resources
in those areas where the risk of flooding to communities, businesses and property
are greatest.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In the areas where the Evironment Agency
is withdrawing from land drainage activities, the Agency is committed to working closely
with landowners, farmers, householders and businesses to help them consider the options
available to them for taking over the maintenance activities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>We feel that, in these areas, responsibility for local watercourse management
sits more appropriately with expert local bodies, including local authorities and
IDBs as well as riparian owners, since these bodies are best placed to take decisions
on local priorities in discussion with their communities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We
are keen to enable these bodies, and individuals, to act effectively in partnerships
at a local level to achieve the outcomes that communities want to see. We are engaged
in a range of actions to make it easier for farmers and landowners who wish to undertake
their own de-silting and channel maintenance activities. We also very much welcome
the establishment of IDBs where these are proposed and supported by the local community.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We recognise the challenges associated with raising funds for
flood risk locally, including for the establishment of new IDBs, and are continuing
to explore options in this area together with the Department for Communities and Local
Government</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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