'Homes could be exposed' in Environment Agency cuts

Officials working on flood risk management will be sacked as Environment Agency sheds about 15% of its workforce to save money, according to The Telegraph.

More than 1,500 jobs will be cut by October, leading to fears that the agency will not be able to cope with serious flooding next year. The agency’s chief executive told the newspaper that the downsizing will have an impact on its flood work.

Paul Leinster, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: “Flood risk maintenance will be [further] impacted. All of our work on mapping and modelling and new developments in things like flood warning will also have to be resized.

"And we’re looking at a proportionate reduction in the number of people in flood risk management.”